Ping calls are fraudulent phone calls in which the caller only lets the phone ring briefly to pique the callee's interest and curiosity. These calls are called “pings” because they act like a short signal or “ping” on a radar that quickly disappears. The scammers' goal is for the victim to trace the missed call and call back.
In many cases, scammers use a technique called “call ID spoofing” to disguise or manipulate your phone number. A different phone number appears on the callee's display - often one that looks familiar to the victim or comes from the same country or the same area code. This is intended to create trust and increase the likelihood of a callback.
If the victim traces the call and calls back the number shown, they will usually be redirected to an expensive premium or international number. For every call returned, the fraudsters receive a commission, while the victim is faced with high telephone costs. In some cases, victims are also redirected to an announcement that keeps them on the line for as long as possible in order to generate even more charges.
Ping calls are a worldwide phenomenon that affects both landlines and cell phones. Scammers often adapt their strategies to hide their tactics and increase the success rate of their calls. That's why it's important to be vigilant and keep up to date with the latest scam methods.
Ping Calls: The Facts
- Definition of Ping Calls: Ping calls are unwanted calls in which the caller only rings for a short time, leaving the victim no time to answer the call. Instead, the victim is tricked into calling back the missed call, resulting in high callback fees.
- The scammers' goal: The scammers want to get their victims to call back expensive service numbers or foreign numbers. The fraudsters receive a commission for every call returned.
- Caller ID: Scammers often use phone numbers similar to victims' numbers to inspire trust and increase the likelihood of a call back.
- Area of distribution: Ping calls are a worldwide phenomenon and occur in different countries and on different network providers.
Ping calls: The protective measures
- Ignore unknown numbers: To protect yourself from ping calls, you should ignore calls from unknown numbers and do not call them back.
- Blocking numbers: Many mobile phone providers allow you to block certain numbers to block unwanted calls.
- Using apps: There are special apps that warn about or automatically block ping calls.
- Information and education: Educate friends and family about the phenomenon of ping calls to protect them from possible scams.
Report PING calls!
Does it make sense to report ping phone numbers?
Yes, it makes sense to report ping phone numbers. Reporting these numbers can help identify the scammers and prevent further scam calls. Here are some reasons why reporting ping phone numbers makes sense:
- Attention of authorities: Reporting ping phone numbers to the relevant authorities or regulators can help them become aware of the problem and initiate appropriate investigations.
- Protecting other users: By reporting fraudulent numbers, you help prevent those numbers from being blocked or blacklisted. This can prevent other users from also becoming victims of ping calls.
- Block list updates: Many carriers and dedicated apps use block lists to automatically block fraudulent calls. Reporting pinged phone numbers helps keep these lists current and increases the effectiveness of such blocking services.
- Law Enforcement: In some cases, reporting fraudulent phone numbers can help locate the fraudsters and hold them accountable.
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