New Scam: Why You Should Ignore Calls with +44
Since March 1st, 250 complaints about scam calls from the United Kingdom have already been registered at the reporting office for number misuse. "This is a significant increase in a very short time, suggesting that the number of unreported cases is much higher," explains Klaus M. Steinmaurer, Managing Director of RTR for the Telecommunications and Postal Services Division.
Particularly noticeable: The calls are made via British phone numbers with the country code +44. Steinmaurer therefore advises caution: "If you are not expecting a call from the United Kingdom, you should not pick up at all."
Fraudsters Aim to Obtain Personal Data
In the reported cases, a female computer voice posed as a recruiter and urged the called parties to add the +44 number to their WhatsApp contacts. "On the one hand, it is free for the fraudsters to communicate with the selected victims via chat. On the other hand, the likelihood increases that people will react thoughtlessly to messages and disclose personal data," explains Steinmaurer.
In general, healthy skepticism is advisable for unexpected calls from abroad. Steinmaurer refers to the anti-spoofing regulation, which has been preventing scam calls with fake Austrian numbers since the beginning of the year: "As a result, fraudsters are increasingly resorting to foreign area codes."
Report Suspicious Calls Immediately
Affected individuals can report suspicious phone numbers and SMS senders on the RTR website at www.rufnummernmissbrauch.at. This helps to detect fraudulent activities early and warn the public. Current notices and tips are also available on the RTR website at www.rtr.at/aktuelle_beobachtungen.
(Red)
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