Mobile users in India are being targeted by a costly scam, known as the Premium Rate Service scam, which occurs when they return missed calls from international numbers. Victims who dial back these calls find themselves connected to expensive premium rate services, leading to charges of several hundred rupees per minute, even for short connections. The scam works by the fraudsters placing brief calls that disconnect before the recipient answers, prompting curiosity and a return call.
Reliance Jio has warned its customers about this scam, advising them not to return any missed calls from unfamiliar international numbers. The telecommunications company explained that these calls often lead to high charges per minute, even for brief interactions. It is critical for users to be cautious and avoid returning calls from numbers with unfamiliar international prefixes.
To protect themselves, users are advised to block suspicious international numbers and refrain from calling back any missed international numbers. They should be particularly cautious of calls with short ring durations, those made at odd hours, and repeated calls from similar numbers. Such calls are typical signs of this scam, and ignoring them is the best defense.
Additionally, users can enhance their protection by enabling international call blocking, particularly if they don’t have close contacts abroad. While reporting suspicious numbers to local authorities can help, it often takes time for action to be taken. Therefore, the primary focus should be on preventative measures to avoid falling victim to this growing scam.
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