Fraudulent schemes are increasingly prevalent, particularly through calls from the UK (+44 area code) that often feature pre-recorded messages about job opportunities. These scams aim to extract personal information or lure victims into fake job offers with cryptocurrency payments. Additional tactics involve ping calls designed to provoke return calls that incur high charges. To protect yourself, avoid answering suspicious numbers, hang up on automated messages, and consider utilizing call-blocking features or apps to minimize spam calls.
Every day, we face a barrage of fraudulent schemes that complicate our lives. It’s crucial to remain vigilant against phishing emails, the grandchild scam, and those irritating spam calls. The latter can be particularly bothersome.
Currently, many individuals are receiving calls from numbers starting with the area code +44, which seem relentless. These calls are linked to scammers with malicious intentions. Their goal is to gain access to your personal information and, in the worst-case scenario, commit identity theft.
The New Scam from the UK
The +44 area code indicates that these calls originate from the United Kingdom. When you pick up, you hear a pre-recorded message stating, “Hello, I want to discuss a job opportunity. Please add me on WhatsApp.” Shortly after, the call disconnects. This tactic serves two potential purposes for the scammers.
One objective is to lure you into a job scam via WhatsApp. In this scheme, you are promised a high-paying job for simple tasks, supposedly compensated in cryptocurrency. However, you will find that the promised money never materializes, leaving you empty-handed after putting in effort.
In some cases, the scammers may also request money from you under the guise of a salary advance, which is never returned. Their primary interest, of course, is your sensitive information.
Another tactic employed is the ping call, where the scammers hope that curiosity will prompt you to call back. If you do, however, it could lead to substantial charges. Since the UK is no longer part of the EU post-Brexit, these calls can be quite costly. The goal is to prolong the conversation and keep you engaged, thus increasing your bill.
Effective Ways to Safeguard Yourself
Numbers such as +447300287048, +447383072535, +447444468976, and +447307398680 have been flagged as highly suspicious by the tellows platform. If you see any of these on your caller ID, it’s best to avoid answering. Similar spam calls are also being reported from countries like the Netherlands and Portugal.
As a general rule, if you encounter an automated message when you answer the phone, feel free to hang up right away. Legitimate businesses do not utilize pre-recorded messages for outreach. Phone calls that offer comparisons, especially regarding utilities or banking services, are also strong indicators of fraudulent activity.
Ideally, you should refrain from engaging with such calls altogether. Even a simple “yes” could have serious repercussions. Scammers may record your responses and use them to manipulate you into confirming a contract. Therefore, the most effective strategy remains to simply hang up.
For those looking to minimize spam calls, Samsung users can enable the ‘Smart Call’ feature, while iPhone users have the option to block unknown numbers.
Additionally, consider downloading the tellows app, which automatically alerts you to and blocks unwanted calls. If you prefer to protect your landline, the tellows call protection feature for the FRITZ!Box can also help shield you from these pesky spam calls.