Wangiri (One-Ring) Scam

Wangiri — Japanese for 'one ring and cut' — is among the simplest telephone frauds. The attacker dials a large batch of numbers using an autodialer, letting each ring once before disconnecting. Victims who see a missed call from an unfamiliar international number often call back out of curiosity or concern.

The return call connects to a premium-rate or high-cost international number, often in a distant country with loose telecom regulation. The fraudster keeps the victim on hold or talking as long as possible, earning a share of the inflated per-minute charges. Modern campaigns are automated and can target millions of numbers at low cost.

The scam is most effective against people who may be expecting international calls — job seekers, those with family abroad, or anyone who recently made international enquiries. Defence is simple: do not call back unknown international numbers; search the number online to see if others have reported it as a wangiri number before returning the call.