Beware of Missed Calls from This Number, Do Not Call Back!

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Have you ever received a phone call from a foreign number that rings only once and then disconnects? Be cautious, as you may be the target of a wangiri scam.

The term wangiri originates from Japanese, meaning “one ring and hang up”. This cybercrime modus operandi, which has actually existed since the 2000s, exploits the victim’s curiosity to call back a missed call from an unknown number, especially one using an overseas area code.

Layered Losses: Depleted Credit to Data Leakage

The Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi), formerly known as Kemenkominfo, noted that similar cases once widely affected mobile operator customers in Indonesia with the prevalence of calls using the +77 area code.

The main dangers of this scam modus operandi include:

• Automatic Credit Drain: When you call back, the call will be counted as an international call with a fantastic tariff.

• Premium Service Charges: If the number you call is connected to a premium service, the victim will be charged exorbitant rates, with the profits flowing directly into the fraudster’s pocket.

• Personal Data Exploitation: In addition to financial losses, the victim’s phone number is at risk of being recorded and sold to global cybercrime networks.

Preventive Measures from Komdigi

To avoid the wangiri trap, pay attention to the following protective steps:

• Check the Country Code: Always check the number prefix on missed calls. Indonesia uses the +62 code, while suspicious numbers usually use foreign country codes such as Congo (+24) or other regions.

• Do Not Call Back: If you do not recognise the international number and are not expecting a call from abroad, ignore it and never call back.

• Independent Search: If you are already curious, first find out information or the identity of the number’s owner through search engines or phone number tracking applications before taking any action.