Nigeria’s Telecommunication governing body, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has recently raised an alarm to educate and warn the general population about the prevailing surge of Wangiri phone scams, which have been causing significant harm and distress to numerous mobile users nationwide. The emergence of this advancement happened after the Commission’s previous disclosure, stating that it had been made aware of grievances from a staggering 20,000 Nigerian individuals who have tragically become prey to telecommunication scams. The Wangiri Scam involves deceitful missed calls.
Recently discovered is a deceptive tactic commonly known as Wangiri has emerged from the depths of Japan, characterized by the cunning act of initiating a single ring before abruptly disconnecting. This nefarious ploy has gained notoriety as it preys on innocent mobile phone users across the globe. This particular type of Fraud involves the culprits making short phone calls to unsuspecting individuals. They disconnect almost immediately, hoping that the receiver will be the one to make the next call. According to details provided by the NCC, scammers employ a deceitful tactic that starts with a single phone call to a mobile device, which then incites the receiver to dial back the missed call.
Calls related to this scam originate from smaller countries.
In the event that the person chooses to respond to the phone call, they might unintentionally dial a costly number, which could potentially be an international one, leading to exorbitant charges. As a result, the individual may end up facing a considerable financial burden as a consequence of making that phone call. Most frequently, calls related to this scam originate from countries that are typically smaller or in the process of growing and developing. Over the past recent period, there have been occurrences of receiving phone calls from nations such as Botswana, Guinea, and Guyana. These countries can be recognized by their distinct dialling codes: +267, +224, and +592 respectively.
It is quite a challenge to block these peculiar calls due to the constant change in numbers after every missed call, which further adds to the disconcerting aspects of the situation. The scam has the potential to endure for a specific mobile phone user for several days, taking advantage of their curiosity and capitalizing on the momentary bewilderment that arises from the unanswered call. In order to avoid becoming a victim of the fraudulent Wangiri scheme, it is highly recommended for telecommunications customers to refrain from dialing back unfamiliar international numbers.
Public charging of phones poses a considerable threat.
Instead, they are urged to swiftly block any questionable numbers that may unexpectedly appear. Public charging of phones poses a considerable threat, and to emphasize this, the NCC has urged Nigerians to exercise utmost vigilance. This cautionary message is aimed at protecting individuals from cunning fraudsters who may exploit these charging stations to gain unauthorized access to their devices. MTN Nigeria, the leading telecommunications corporation in Nigeria, recently published a notification for its users, providing them with detailed guidelines to safeguard themselves against falling prey to fraudulent phone schemes.
Phone users are advised to restrict responding to calls of unfamiliar numbers. It is advisable to abstain from returning calls originating from overseas numbers that are unfamiliar to you. It was also said that legitimate phone calls tend to persist. If a caller is truly seeking to contact you, they will typically make multiple efforts or leave a voicemail. NCC also advised people to be vigilant for suspicious prefixes. This fraudulent scheme frequently exploits particular international prefixes, such as +175 (associated with Saint Lucia), +269 (related to Comoros), +682 (connected to Cook Islands), and similar ones. Acquainting one self with these prefixes can help in recognizing possible scams.
WhatsApp has turned into the prime hunting ground for hackers.
Earlier on, there was a notification about the cautionary message issued by the NCC, highlighting how WhatsApp has turned into the prime hunting ground for hackers and fraudsters who are striving to obtain illicit entry into innocent users’ accounts. In an expert suggestion to Nigerian users, the Commission uncovered valuable information intended to keep them alert and cautious about their Security during their platform usage. To avoid being susceptible to hacking, it is advisable for users to enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). The 2FA is explained as a security protocol in identity and access management that mandates the use of two different identification methods to gain entry to WhatsApp’s resources and data.
