How to identify 'Wangiri' international call scams

 

The Communications Authority of Kenya has warned Kenyans of the return of Wangiri phone scams.

In a statement on Friday, CA director general Ezra Chiloba said it has received confirmation reports through the National Kenya Computer Incident Response Team Coordination Centre (National KE-CIRT/CCA).

"There has been an ongoing Wangiri scam in Kenya that has been reported by users on various platforms including social media," Chiloba said. 

The scam is characterised by a call that rings once and the caller hangs up before you can answer.

"The scam is designed to hare innocent and unsuspecting mobile phone users to returning the "urgent" international calls upon which they are unknowingly redirected to premium numbers that drain their credit," Chiloba explained. 

He added that during the calls, a recorded message plays to keep the caller connected.

This means that the longer one stays connected, the more money they are scammed.

Chiloba said those who have fallen victim to the Wangiri scam received calls from telephone numbers with the following codes +51 (Peru) and +64 (New Zealand).

"These telephone numbers are illegally purchased by these scammers on the Dark Web, which is a hidden part of the Internet known for buying and selling illegal goods and services," he added. 

He warned Kenyans to be vigilant and avoid calling back any international numbers they do not recognise.

"If you happen to already be a victim, report the number to your service provider so that they can block the numbers," Chiloba said.

"This stops other users from becoming victims."