Wangiri Scam: Everything You Need to Know to Stay Safe
Table of Contents
- 1. Wangiri Scam: Everything You Need to Know to Stay Safe
- 2. How the Wangiri Scam Works
- 3. Geographic Origins of Wangiri Calls
- 4. Three Steps to Protect yourself from Wangiri and Phone Scams
- 5. What steps can individuals take to protect themselves from Wangiri scams?
- 6. Archyde News Interview: Exposing the Wangiri Scam with cybersecurity expert, Dr. Amina Al-Sayed
- 7. Wangiri scam: A Growing Global Threat
- 8. Dr. Amina Al-Sayed on Wangiri Scam Origins and Evolution
- 9. How Does the Wangiri Scam Work?
- 10. Wangiri Scam’s Global Landscape
- 11. Three essential Steps to Protect yourself from Wangiri Scams
- 12. Thoughts on the Future of Wangiri Scams and Phone-Based Threats
In today’s digital age, smartphone users constantly face the threat of unwanted calls. While spam calls are annoying, they are often easily avoidable thanks to spam filters built into modern phones.However, a more insidious danger lurks – phone scams, with some even evolving into sophisticated threats that target your bank account and personal information.
One of these evolving scams is known as “Wangiri” (or Ping Call), recently uncovered by law enforcement across Europe
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How the Wangiri Scam Works
this scam starts with a brief, almost imperceptible ring from an unknown number. The victim, often caught off guard, attempts to return the call out of curiosity.
At this point,the scam is already underway. The returned call connects to an automated service with exorbitant charges. While you wait, often listening to music or pre-recorded messages, your phone credit can be rapidly drained.In some advanced versions, the charge starts as soon as the initial short ring is made, without even needing a call to be answered.
Geographic Origins of Wangiri Calls
The Wangiri scam is constantly evolving, with new variations emerging regularly. Recent investigations have linked the scam to Albania (prefixed 355), Côte d’Ivoire (225), Ghana (233), and Nigeria (234).
In previous months, Interpol reported identifying other countries involved in the scam: Moldova (373), Kosovo (383), and tunisia (216).
Three Steps to Protect yourself from Wangiri and Phone Scams
While phone scams are a serious threat, there are steps you can take to protect yourself:
- never return calls from unknown numbers, especially international ones, without verifying the sender.
- Activate call blocking for international calls.
- Download a call identification and blocking app. Popular options include truecaller and Should I Answer, available for both Android and iOS devices.
By staying informed and vigilant,you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to the Wangiri scam and other phone-based threats.
What steps can individuals take to protect themselves from Wangiri scams?
Archyde News Interview: Exposing the Wangiri Scam with cybersecurity expert, Dr. Amina Al-Sayed

Wangiri scam: A Growing Global Threat
In our ongoing effort to keep our readers informed about the latest digital threats, Archyde News has the pleasure of interviewing Dr.Amina Al-Sayed,renowned cybersecurity expert and author of the book Cyber Safeguards: Protecting Your Digital Life. today, we delve into the alarming world of phone scams, focusing on one of the most insidious – the Wangiri, or Ping Call, scam.
Dr. Amina Al-Sayed on Wangiri Scam Origins and Evolution
"Wangiri scams have been around for years, but they’ve evolved significantly, especially with the rise of smartphone usage. What started as simple missed call scams has grown into an elaborate, global fraud network," Dr. Al-Sayed explains.
How Does the Wangiri Scam Work?
"The scam begins with a brief, almost imperceptible ring from an unknown number. Once the victim returns the call,often driven by curiosity,the scam kicks into gear. The returned call connects to an automated service with exorbitant charges. While you wait, your phone credit can be rapidly drained," Dr.al-Sayed warned.
Wangiri Scam’s Global Landscape
Wangiri scams are constantly evolving, with new variations emerging regularly. In recent investigations, law enforcement has linked these scams to countries such as Albania, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria.
"It’s not just about these countries anymore. Wangiri scams have tentacles reaching across the globe. We’ve seen connections to moldova, Kosovo, and even Tunisia," added Dr.Al-Sayed.
Three essential Steps to Protect yourself from Wangiri Scams
- Never return calls from unknown numbers,especially international ones,without verification.
- Activate call blocking for international calls.
- Download a call identification and blocking app. dr. Al-Sayed recommends truecaller and Should I Answer for both Android and iOS devices.
Thoughts on the Future of Wangiri Scams and Phone-Based Threats
"As phone scams continue to evolve, staying informed and vigilant is more critical than ever. We need to be proactive, not just reactive. that means educating ourselves and others about these threats," concluded Dr. Al-Sayed.
Thank you, Dr. Amina Al-Sayed, for your insights into the Wangiri scam and phone-based threats. Your expertise is invaluable in helping Archyde News readers stay safe in our ever-evolving digital world.