FCC warns public of 'One Ring' robocall scam

(WRIC) — The FCC issued a warning about a new phone scam called ‘One Ring’ where the illegal robocall on the other line doesn’t want you to answer.

They do want you to call them back, however.

Here’s why: people who call back could be charged for unknowingly connecting to a number outside the United States.

Law enforcement officials say this scam typically happens in the middle of the night. Savvy scammers will often use an international number from regions that also begin with three digit codes. For example, “809” goes to the Dominican Republic.

There’s also another variation of this scam – a person may leave a phony voice mail saying you won a prize or say something about a sick relative.

But the end result is still the same: if you call the number back, you risk being charged a fee for connecting.

8News spoke to people in the Richmond area who’ve experienced these type of robocalls – and they say it’s annoying.

“I think robocalls are nothing more than a nuisance,” said Lonnie Bates. “It’s not fair to the people.”

Laura Coleman, a robocall victim agrees: “Go find something else to take up your time, don’t bother me.”

The following is additional information provided by the FCC about the phone scam:

How to avoid this scam:

Don’t 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.

Filing a complaint with the FCC:

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.