This archive report was first published on 7 October 2021.
Have you ever wondered why you receive missed calls from strange numbers? The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) shed light on this phenomenon in 2020, explaining that it's a form of Wangiri Fraud.
Wangiri Fraud, also known as Wangiri Scam, involves receiving missed calls from international numbers you do not recognize. The term Wangiri is Japanese for 'one (ring) and cut.'
The scam relies on people's innate curiosity, with many instinctively returning a missed call, even from a mysterious international number. The repetitive nature of the scam adds to the intrigue and pressure.
According to DCI, the aim of the scam is to encourage those who get a missed call to ring the number, after which they will be ripped off as the call will be re-routed to a premium rate number overseas and will be subsequently billed exorbitant sums for listening to pre-recorded messages.
So, what should you do if you get a suspected Wangiri call? DCI advises that you don't return calls to international numbers that you don't recognize. If the worst happens and you return the Wangiri call, they encourage you to call your mobile service provider, explain the situation, and help them block some of these numbers.
Warnings about the scam have appeared in Kenyan, U.K., Canadian, Irish, and New Zealand media, among others. It's a genuinely international scam, with victims distributed across the world.
