Expensive ping traps Why you should never call back foreign numbers
The temptation to call back a missed number is great. However, if it is a foreign number, you need to be even more careful. This is because telephone fraudsters are often behind it.
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- Short calls from unknown, usually foreign numbers are intended to tempt you to make expensive callbacks.
- Numbers with "+" or "00" are a key warning signal and can appear harmless, even though high charges are imminent.
- Do not call back unknown numbers and pass on personal contact details as cautiously as possible.
Unknown calls have long been part of everyday life. But not every missed call is a coincidence or a mistake. Behind some of these contacts is a targeted scam, so-called ping calls. The phone rings only briefly, often so briefly that there is no time to answer the call. What remains is an unknown number on the display and the impulse to call back.
This is exactly what the fraudsters are banking on. A call back can cost several francs per minute, in extreme cases even more. The calls often originate from abroad or from special satellite numbers where high rates apply. The costs are not always immediately apparent.
The area code as the first warning signal
A closer look at the number can be decisive. International scam calls can usually be recognized by a foreign area code, starting with a plus sign or the number "00". It is particularly perfidious that some country codes resemble Swiss area codes or well-known European numbers. This makes the calls look familiar, even though they are made from thousands of kilometers away.
Swiss consumer protection organizations also warn against calling back unknown numbers without checking them. Anyone who has no contacts in the country in question should always be skeptical. A quick online search of the number often provides clues, as many scam numbers are already documented in forums or warning lists.
The business model behind the bait calls
The principle is simple but effective. After calling back, those affected either hear nothing at all or are confronted with automated tape announcements, for example about alleged parcel deliveries or urgent messages. The aim is to keep callers on the line for as long as possible, as every additional second increases the fraudsters' income.
For contract customers, the damage usually only becomes apparent with the next telephone bill. Prepaid users often notice the deduction immediately, but cannot always clearly assign it. The emotional threshold of investigating for a few francs also plays into the hands of the perpetrators.
Prevention instead of damage limitation
The most effective protection remains caution. Unexpected calls should not be returned, especially if they originate from abroad or have unusual area codes. Many smartphones and mobile phone providers now offer functions for automatically blocking suspicious numbers.
There is also a structural problem. Fraudsters sometimes obtain telephone numbers via data leaks or carelessly passed on contact details. If you use your personal details sparingly and consciously, you reduce the risk of being targeted by such calls in the first place.
