BBB notices jump in one-ring phone scams

We’ve all gotten those phantom calls.

Your phone rings once and then stops.

Most of us probably call back, even if we don’t recognize the number.

Bad move.

The BBB Serving Metro Atlanta, Athens & Northeast Georgia reports those calls from phone numbers with three-digit area codes may appear to be domestic, but are actually associated with international pay-per-call phone numbers.

These calls often disconnect after one ring to try to tempt consumers to return the call.

If you receive a call like this and do not recognize the number of the incoming call, do not return the call. If you do, you may be connected to an international hotline than can charge a fee for connecting, along with significant per-minute fees if they can keep you on the phone. These charges may show up on your bill as premium services.

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The scam has probably been around “a lot longer than we know,” said  spokeswoman Dottie Callina.

“It’s just another format of the robo calls that come in,” she said. “A lot of people rush to answer a phone when it rings. Most people will try to call it back and that’s where you can have problems.”

She said is BBB has seen a jump in such scams on its scam tracker.

Callina suggests consumers not answer any unknown phone number. If it’s important, the caller will leave a message.

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Here’s how it works:

Your wireless phone rings once or twice before the call is disconnected. The number that appears in your wireless phone log as a missed call appears to be a legitimate U.S area code, but is actually a three-digit international area code.

If you return the call you will be connected to a phone number outside the United States, often in Canada or the Caribbean, and charged expensive international call rates. (For instance , “649” goes to the Turks and Caicos and  “809” goes to the Dominican Republic.)

If you are billed for a call you made as a result of this scam, first try to resolve the matter with your telephone company. If you are unable to resolve it directly, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at no cost or the Federal Communications Commission.