Beware: 7 Area Codes Tied to New 1-Ring Scam in Missouri

Do you consider yourself tech-savvy? I'll admit that I do, but even I could potentially be caught unaware of a new 1-ring scam that is targeting Missourians from 7 dangerous area codes.

The 1-ring scam was first reported in Missouri by KSHB just a few years ago

Has your smartphone recently rang once from an unknown caller and area code? Mine has in the past and I had no idea that it was likely part of an elaborate new 1-ring scam that the FTC is now warning everyone in Missouri about. Here's how it works:

• The perpetrators call from an area code that looks like a US number
• They only allow the call to ring once and the call terminates
• What happens is some will assume they've missed an important call and call the number back
• The calls connect to international numbers that can rack up huge costs per minute which can total hundreds of dollars

In addition, Cheapism just listed 7 area codes that are used behind this one-ring scheme. Here are the 7 area codes you should never call back:

• 232 – Sierra Leone
• 284 – British Virgin Islands
• 345 – Cayman Islands
• 649 – Turks and Caicos
• 721 – St. Maarten
• 767 – Dominica
• 869 – St. Kitts & Nevis

What can you do to avoid being victimized?

It's not enough to just ignore unknown area codes and individuals now that spoofing is a common scam technique which can impersonate known phone numbers that can include local government or law enforcement agencies. If you do answer, hang up if you don't immediately recognize the other caller. Some scammers will ask if you can hear them and if you answer yes, they can use that recording to approve purchases. We sadly live in a world where you really do need to be paranoid around devices. As a rule of thumb, I do not answer any calls that I'm not expecting unless it's from family members, co-workers or friends. I figure if the call is important, they'll leave a message and I can contact through known safe methods. I have been a certified computer tech for nearly two decades and I can attest to numerous people I've known in Missouri that have sadly been victimized by these methods. Where is Batman when you need him?