One Ring Callback Scam: Is It a Scam?

The one ring or Wangiri scam involves receiving a single ring from an unfamiliar number, often with an international area code. If you call back out of curiosity, you are connected to a premium-rate number that charges several dollars per minute.

How This Scam Works

Your phone rings once or twice and then stops, leaving a missed call from an unfamiliar number, often with an international country code. Curious, you call back. The number connects to a premium-rate line that may play hold music, a fake recording, or an automated message to keep you on the line as long as possible. You are charged premium rates, sometimes $15 to $30 per minute, which appear on your phone bill. The scammers earn a share of the premium charges. Sometimes these calls also lead to recorded messages that try to extract personal information.

Red Flags to Watch For

• Single ring from an unfamiliar number
• Number has an international country code you do not recognize
• Area codes from small island nations (e.g., 284, 809, 876, 649)
• You receive multiple one-ring calls from different international numbers
• When you call back, you hear hold music or a recorded message

Example Scam Messages

What to Do If You Received This

• Do not call back numbers you do not recognize, especially international ones
• If the call is important, the caller will leave a voicemail or call again
• Block the number
• Be especially wary of area codes from Caribbean or African nations
• Check if your carrier offers international call blocking

What to Do If You Fell For It

How to Report This Scam

• Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• Report to the FCC at fcc.gov/consumers/guides/one-ring-scam
• File a complaint with FBI IC3 at ic3.gov
• Report to your phone carrier

Last updated: February 10, 2026