KUWAIT CITY, March 12: Repeated missed calls over a few days from a number with country code +371 prompted this journalist to investigate. It seems like Kuwait is the latest target in an international mobile-phone scam.

While the mobile service provider declined any knowledge of foul play, Internet searches showed that anonymous missed calls from Latvia (+371) and Belarus (+375) have already been creating a flap in countries like India.

Many Indian newspapers reported incidents of people getting such calls that get cut exactly after the first ring. The reports came when mobile phone users began expressing concern amid rumors that these were hoax calls designed to loot unsuspecting users who show the courtesy to return the call.

Among the many theories that floated around, one said that if you called back this number, fraudsters will be able to copy your contact list in addition to other sensitive information like bank details if it’s available on your phone in 3 seconds.

Leading Internet service providers in India had issued warnings on their websites about these ISD calls and allayed fears of grave consequences. This is a missed call technique used by scammers to trick users and get financial benefit from the mobile companies. Most of these dubious ISD calls will be from premium numbers, which are charged high when called back. Therefore, if you get calls or messages from suspicious numbers like +375xxxx, discard the calls and do not respond to their messages.

Theories of fraudsters copying your bank account and credit card details by a simple phone call were rejected as an exaggerated hoax.

An Indian IT expert explained the mechanism saying it is an old scam under the Priority Payment Number. “A computer program dials as many series of numbers as possible. There is one ring for giving a missed call. We believe it to be an international number and call back following which the service provider charges the caller for making an international call. The money thus charged is then paid to the company owning the number by the service provider. A portion of this money is then paid to the scammer by the company. So, the advice is to never call back.”