PORTLAND, Ore. — If your phone rings once and then stops, you could be the target of the new “one ring” scam.
Here’s how it works: Your phone rings, but the caller doesn’t leave a message. Thinking you missed a call, you call the number back. Often someone will answer, or maybe you get a recording.
What you may not realize is you have been connected to a line with per-minute toll charges, similar to calling a 1-900 number. When your phone bill arrives, it could be much larger than normal.
The Federal Communications Commission warned consumers if you don’t recognize the number, do not return the call. Before calling unfamiliar numbers, check to see if the area code is international.
The potential cost of one of these calls depends on the location of the number and amount of time spent on the phone, according to the FCC.
If you are billed for a call you made responding to the "one ring" scam, contact your phone company. If you can't resolve the billing dispute directly, consumers can file a complaint with the FCC.
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