Missed call scams start by ringing your phone and hanging up so quickly that you can\u2019t answer the call in time. Your phone registers a missed call and you probably won\u2019t recognise the number. People will often then call the number back to find out who it is. Apart from being a nuisance, the missed call can lead to a scam in two ways:
\nThe number you call back may be redirected to a premium rate service (a number that starts with 190) without your knowledge, which means you will be charged a lot of money per minute.
\nThe number may tell you that you have won a prize of some sort and give you another number to call to \u2018claim\u2019 your prize, but they may not tell you how much the call will cost. This second number may be a premium rate number, again charging you a lot of money to get your \u2018prize\u2019. Your prize may be nothing more than a ring tone subscription\u2014which can also be a scam!
\nText message scams work by sending you a text message from a number you may not recognise, but the content of the message could sound like it\u2019s from a friend\u2014for instance \u2018Hi, it\u2019s John. I\u2019m back! When do you want to catch up?\u2019 or \u2018Hey big fella, happy birthday!\u2019.
\nAnother common tactic is for a text message to sound like someone flirting with you. Many people reply asking who it is and end up engaging in a lengthy SMS exchange with the scammer. Only later do they find out that they have been charged a high rate both for messages they sent (sometimes there are also charges for messages received as well).<\/p>\n