The ‘One Ring Phone Scam': How To Avoid Getting Ripped Off

Don't return calls from these area codes -- it's a scam! The Better Business Bureau is warning people about a scam they’re calling the “One Ring Phone Scam.”

Scammers call your phone and hang up after one ring.

They’re hoping you’ll call back, which allows them to pile on charges while you’re connected.

The calls usually come from outside the US, but you won’t always know that because they come from countries that use a 1+country code.

You could get a $19.95 international call fee plus a charge of upwards of $9 a minute.

The area codes to look out for are 268 (Antigua or Barbados), 809 (Dominican Republic), 876 (Jamaica), 284 (Virgin Islands), and 473 (Grenada.)

If you do get scammed, tell your carrier, they are usually aware of the scams and will cancel the charges.

In the meantime, if you get a call from a number you don’t recognize…Google the area code and number first so you know where it’s coming from. Plus you may find other people posting about the number being a scam.