The inquiries about this fairly new chain letter are increasing. Can fraudsters actually use ping calls to copy the contact list from the smartphone within 3 seconds?
It wasn't that long ago that we received the first inquiries about this warning:

Very very urgent… *
Please forward this message to your family and friends NOW.
People have received calls from
Tel: +375602605281
Tel: +37127913091
Tel: +37178565072
Tel: +56322553736
Tel: +37052529259
Tel: +255901130460
or any number of * +371 +375 + 3 81*These guys just ring once and hang up.
When you call back they can copy your contact list in 3 seconds and if you have bank or credit card details on your phone they can copy that too...+375 code is for Belarus.
+371 code is for Lativa.
+381 Serbia.
+563 Valparaiso.
+370 Vilnius.
+255 Tanzania.* Don't answer * or * Call back. *
Also, do not press
*#90 or #09*
on your cell phone when asked by a caller.It is a new trick used to access your SIM card, make calls at your expense and portray you as a criminal.
*URGENTLY FORWARD* This message to as many friends as possible to stop any intruder!!!
The fact check
The chain letter was first circulated on Facebook, but now it is also sent via WhatsApp.
Colleague Andre writes:
Oof. So let's sit back and let all this nonsense sink in. However, if you then take a closer look, you will see that this chain letter consists of several components that we already know from old chain letters and that at this point do not fit together as a whole and therefore do not work in this form.
Two main components
Let's take the chain letter apart piece by piece. The first part with the different phone numbers seems as if it refers to the so-called ping calls. These calls are a method in which callers actually ring once and then hang up. These calls are made in the hope that the person called will call back. In these cases, significant costs may arise. We have already reported several times about the problem of so-called ping calls ( see here ).
Another component of the chain letter is the ancient hoax about the so-called Gartenhag ( see here ). This is a rumor that is at least 20 years old, i.e. a hoax that is technically not possible and has never worked that way. This refers to the age-old rumor that after pressing the hash, 9 and 0 keys, the caller is given the authority to make calls at the expense of the other person's phone number. In the current chain letter this is reflected with the words “to access your SIM card”.
No fear
This chain letter is about a few old rumors that never came true and were cobbled together again. And in addition, this chain letter may have been translated from English, because the request “urgently forward” probably corresponds to the English “urgently forward”, which in German we would rather render with the words “urgently forward”.
And actually, if you use the Facebook search function, you will find this chain letter in its English original in status reports from spring 2017.
You shouldn't be afraid of this chain letter, which seems threatening at first. Please do not share the chain letter, but rather our warning about it.
On the subject of ping calls
The chain letter uses the scam called Ping Call. These are computer programs that randomly dial telephone numbers. The fraudsters want to force a callback.
We advise you to ignore strange and unknown numbers, which often start with “00”.
How can I protect myself?
If you don't know the phone number, enter it into Google first and see if you can find a search result for it. Many of the so-called “ping numbers” have already been posted online. If there is no reason to call this number back, it is best to ignore it and never call back.
In summary you can say:
- Ignore the number and under no circumstances call you back!
- If you are unsure, look for the number online. Here you can often find clues as to whether this is an attempt at fraud!
- Block the number!
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