Smart Communications Inc., the wireless subsidiary of telco PLDT, is reminding the public to be careful about returning missed calls from unfamiliar numbers, especially those that appear to come from overseas. This warning comes as the company raises awareness about “wangiri fraud” or the “one-ring phone scam.”
The scam works by making a victim’s phone ring once using a premium or international number, hoping they will call back out of curiosity. Once they do, they are unknowingly charged high per-minute rates. Scammers often use recorded messages, fake conversations, or voice prompts to keep the victim on the line longer.
“We’ve seen cases where callers are tricked into paying for long-distance charges without realizing it,” said Atty. Roy Ibay, vice president and head of Regulatory Affairs at Smart. “To make it worse, some of these calls are made by robocallers using caller ID spoofing to appear legitimate.”
The word “wangiri” comes from Japan. “Wan” means “one” and “giri” means “cut” or “hang up.” The tactic began in the early 2000s and has since spread to other countries, including the Philippines.
How to avoid the scam
Ibay advised Smart customers not to return calls from unknown or suspicious numbers.
“If it’s a real call, the person will send a text or leave a voicemail. If the number looks suspicious, don’t hesitate to block it,” he said.
Smart recommends checking the country code of incoming calls. Calls from the Philippines should begin with +63. Customers should also make use of smartphone tools that can block scam calls. Both Android and iOS devices have built-in filters, and there are third-party apps that can help detect and block unwanted calls.
Report scam attempts
Smart customers can report suspicious numbers by calling *888.
“Your report helps us take action and protect more users,” Ibay added.
Staying alert and knowing the signs of wangiri fraud can help prevent financial loss.