Beware of the “One-Ring” Phone Scam

For illegal robocallers and scammers, the objective isn’t always to get you to answer the phone—it’s sometimes to get you to call back.

One common trick is the “one-ring” scam, where your phone rings once and then stops abruptly. If this happens and you don’t recognize the number, do not call back—you might be the target of a costly scam.

A Costly Call You Shouldn’t Make

Your phone rings briefly—just once—before stopping. Curious, you check the caller ID. The number appears unfamiliar, but the area code looks legitimate. Should you return the call?

Consider the two possible outcomes:

Scenario 1: You press the call-back button, and after a brief pause, a recorded voice answers: “Hello? Can you hear me?” The message is designed to keep you engaged, increasing the length of the call. What you may not realize is that you have just connected to an international number. Your phone bill will reflect expensive per-minute charges, with the majority of the fees funneled directly to the scammer who orchestrated the call.

Scenario 2: Instead of returning the call, you recognize the risk and ignore it. By doing so, you avoid unnecessary charges and protect yourself from falling victim to this growing scam.

Understanding the One-Ring Scam

The one-ring scam preys on curiosity and impulse. Scammers often use international numbers that resemble U.S. area codes to deceive recipients into calling back. Some of the frequently used international codes include:

• 284 (British Virgin Islands)
• 473 (Grenada)
• 664 (Montserrat)
• 649 (Turks and Caicos)
• 767 (Dominica)
• 849 (Dominican Republic)
• 876 (Jamaica)

Additionally, scammers may spoof local numbers—or even your own number—to increase the likelihood of a return call. If you unknowingly dial one of these fraudulent numbers, watch for a plus sign (+) before the area code, indicating an international call. If you see this symbol, hang up immediately.

How to Protect Yourself

• Do not return calls from unknown numbers, especially those that ring only once.
• Be cautious of unfamiliar area codes, and verify them before making a call.
• Check your phone bill for unexpected international charges.
• Enable call blocking for international numbers if you do not need to make overseas calls.
• Report suspicious calls to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

By staying informed and vigilant, you can safeguard yourself against deceptive phone scams and avoid unnecessary financial losses.