Wangiri (One-Ring Scam)
A fraud where your phone rings once from an international number; calling back connects you to a premium-rate line that racks up charges.
Also known as: one-ring scam, missed-call scam, ring-and-run fraud
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Wangiri is a Japanese word meaning 'one ring and cut.' Scammers use automated dialers to call thousands of mobile numbers and hang up after a single ring, betting that curiosity will prompt the recipient to call back. The missed-call number is routed to a premium-rate or international revenue-share line, so every second the victim stays on hold or listens to music generates money for the fraudster.
The charges appear on the victim's phone bill, often buried under international call fees. The amounts per call are small — typically a few dollars — but when multiplied across thousands of victims the scam is highly profitable. Numbers commonly spoofed originate from Caribbean, Pacific, or African country codes that share revenue with US carriers under international agreements.
To protect yourself, ignore missed calls from unfamiliar international numbers and do not return them. If you suspect you have been caught, contact your carrier immediately to dispute the charge. Your carrier may waive it as a known fraud pattern.
Examples
- A mobile phone rings once at 3 am from a number starting +268; the owner calls back and is put on hold for several minutes while billed at premium rates.
- An automated dialer places 50,000 single-ring calls overnight; even a 1% callback rate generates significant illicit revenue.