Phone Scams: Azerbaijan's Unexpected Calling

Phone scams from Azerbaijan do exist, with one source citing a first-hand experience of a scammer posing as a policeman and stealing money from them at the airport. Another source mentions a scam involving SIM cards, where scammers pretend to be mobile company representatives and overcharge customers.

There is also a scam called Wangiri, a Japanese word meaning one cut, where scammers from Azerbaijan and other countries call your phone, let it ring once, and then disconnect. They rely on you calling the number back so that they can charge you a high rate for the call, with a large percentage of that cost going to them.

How does the scam work?

The scam is known as the "one-ring" scam, or "Wangiri", which is Japanese for "one ring and cut". The scammer will call your phone, let it ring once or twice, and then hang up. The number will often appear to be from a US area code, but scammers often use international numbers from regions that also begin with three-digit codes, such as "232" for Sierra Leone and "809" for the Dominican Republic.

If you call the number back, you will be connected to a premium international number, and will be charged a fee for connecting, along with significant per-minute fees for as long as they can keep you on the phone. These charges may show up on your bill as premium services, international calling, or toll-calling.

In some variations of the scam, you will be redirected to a number offering adult content, and the longer you stay on the call, the higher the charges will be. In other variations, you will receive a voicemail message urging you to call a number with an unfamiliar area code to "schedule a delivery" or to notify you about a "sick" relative.

Scammers may also use spoofing techniques to mask the number in your caller ID display. For example, one person reported receiving a call that appeared to be from the UK, but when they called back, they were connected to Chile.

How to avoid the scam

• Do not answer or return calls from numbers you don't recognize.
• Before calling unfamiliar numbers, check to see if the area code is international.
• If you do not make international calls, ask your phone company to block outgoing international calls on your line.
• Always be cautious, even if a number appears authentic.

What to do if you receive a scam call?

Scam calls are a pervasive issue, with fraudsters employing various tactics to trick unsuspecting individuals into giving up their money or sensitive information. If you receive a scam call, here's what you should do:

• Hang up immediately: As soon as you realize it's a scam, end the call. Do not engage with the scammer or try to outsmart them, as this may lead to further harassment or more sophisticated scams.
• Block the number: Most phones and carriers offer the ability to block specific numbers. By blocking the scammer's number, you prevent them from contacting you again.
• Report the call: Contact your local authorities or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report the scam call. This helps track down the scammers and protect others from falling victim.
• Protect your information: Be cautious about sharing any personal or financial information over the phone, especially if you don't know the caller. Regularly review your financial statements and phone bills for any unauthorized activity.
• Use call-blocking tools: Many phone companies and third-party apps offer call-blocking tools that can automatically filter out spam and scam calls. Enabling these tools can reduce the number of scam calls you receive.
• Be vigilant: Stay alert for common scam tactics, such as spoofed local phone numbers or urgent requests for information. If something seems suspicious, trust your instincts and don't provide any information.

What are some examples of scam numbers?

There are various scam numbers originating from Azerbaijan. Many reports detail a scam known as "Wangiri", or "One-Ring-and-Cut", where scammers from Azerbaijan call international numbers, let the phone ring once, and then hang up. The recipient of the call, thinking that they have missed something important, is then tricked into calling the number back. When the victim calls the number, they are met with a recorded message that is intended to keep them on the line. For example, the message may be: "Hello...hello?...I'm having trouble hearing you. Hello?...Will you please call back?". The longer the victim stays on the call, the more money they lose to international rates and connection fees, which go straight to the scammer.

Scams can also come in the form of WhatsApp messages, where scammers send fake messages inviting users to test a new calling feature or other services. These messages include links to download malware onto the user's phone, allowing scammers to earn money illicitly.

In addition to international phone scams, there are also reports of scams originating from within Azerbaijan. One example is a scam at the Baku airport, where travellers are tricked into buying overpriced SIM cards. Another scam involves a policeman offering to help a traveller buy a ticket for the airport shuttle bus to the city centre. The policeman takes the traveller's money and claims to need to get smaller denominations, but instead steals some of the money for himself.

How to avoid the scam?

How to avoid the scam:

• Do not answer or return any calls from numbers you don't recognize.
• Before calling unfamiliar numbers, check to see if the area code is international.
• If you do not make international calls, ask your phone company to block outgoing international calls on your line.
• Always be cautious, even if a number appears authentic.
• If you are billed for a call you made as a result of this scam, first try to resolve the matter with your telephone company. If you are unable to resolve it directly, you can file a complaint with the FCC at no cost.
• If you feel that you are a victim of an international phone scam, you can file a complaint with the FTC.
• Do not pick any call that is coming from other countries where the phone number remains unrecognized.
• Give special attention to calls coming from African and erstwhile USSR countries.
• If you’re really expecting a call from these countries, it is better to first receive the phone number through WhatsApp or SMS or Email and save it in your phone book.
• If you miss such a one-ring scam call —do not call back.
• If you’re unsure about the origin of the call, you should look up the country code in Google. The search will tell you the country of origin.
• Use mobile apps like TrueCaller to identify unknown numbers. Do not pick an unidentified number unless TrueCaller gives you information.
• Report all the suspicious calls to your phone operator.
• You can use various call-blocking apps to block a particular number. If the spammer is using different numbers, you can also block an entire country code.

What to do if you've been scammed?

If you've been scammed, the first thing to do is act fast. Don't send any more money and block all contact with the scammer. Next, contact your bank or financial institution and ask them to stop any transactions. You should also report the scam to the relevant authorities. If you've paid a scammer, there are different steps to take depending on the payment method. Here are some common ones:

• Credit or debit card: Contact the company or bank that issued the card and tell them it was a fraudulent charge. Ask them to reverse the transaction and refund your money.
• Gift card: Contact the company that issued the gift card, tell them it was used in a scam, and ask for a refund. Keep the gift card and the receipt.
• Wire transfer: Contact the wire transfer company and tell them it was a fraudulent transfer. Ask them to reverse the transfer and refund your money.
• Money transfer app: Report the fraudulent transaction to the company behind the app and ask them to reverse the payment. If the app was linked to a credit or debit card, report the fraud to the card company or bank and ask them to reverse the charge.
• Crypto: Contact the platform or company you used to send the money and tell them it was a fraudulent transaction. Ask them to reverse the transaction if possible.

If you've given a scammer your personal information, such as your Social Security number, go to IdentityTheft.gov to see what steps to take, including how to monitor your credit. If you gave them your username and password, create a new, strong password, and change it anywhere else you use the same password.

If a scammer has accessed your computer or phone, update your security software and run a scan. Delete anything identified as a problem and reset your passwords. If they've taken control of your phone number and account, contact your service provider to regain control, then change your account password. Also, check your financial accounts for unauthorised charges or changes, and report them to the relevant company or institution.

Frequently asked questions