Are You Receiving Strange Calls At Weird Hours From A 222 Area Code

This may seem like a new scam to you but I assure you it's not.  This one's been around for a while and unfortunately continues to thrive in different parts of the world at different time.  So what is the scam?  Where are these phone calls coming from and how do they get me?

This is called WANGIRI SCAM.  Wangari means "one ring and drop" which is exactly how it works.  You may notice that when you're getting called over and over again, all the numbers come from the 222 area code (which is somewhere in South Africa) but the rest of the numbers are always different.  It's never the same exact number calling you back.

The FCC explains what this thing is.  The reason this is called the One Ring And Drop Scam is because they only let the phone ring one time before hanging up.  They're not interested in you answering.  They're interested in just one thing and that is for YOU to pick up your phone, wonder who's been trying to reach you, and then call them back.  When you call them back all sorts of long distant and other charges come into effect draining your account and filling theirs up.

The FCC has a few tips to keep yourself safe from these types of scams...

1. Check any unfamiliar area codes before returning calls.
2. Be aware many 3-digit area codes connect callers to international telephone numbers.
3. If you do not make international calls, ask your local or wireless phone company to block outgoing international calls on your line.