Telecom company Reliance Jio has issued a warning about a growing scam involving missed calls from international numbers. If you call back these numbers you may face hefty charges or even fall victim to cyber fraud.

A New Wave of Cyber Fraud

In recent days scammers have been targeting people across the country by giving missed calls from international numbers. These calls often last only a few seconds leaving people curious and prompting them to call back. However this simple action can result in substantial losses.

How the Scam Works

The scam known as the “Premium Rate Service Fraud” is designed to exploit users who call back missed international numbers. When you return the call you are charged exorbitant rates per minute. A portion of this charge goes to the telecom operator while the rest goes to the scammer.

For example

- If you use a Postpaid connection and call back you might unknowingly rack up charges of Rs 100 per minute or more. You will only realise this when you receive your bill.

Jio's Advisory

Reliance Jio has advised users to be cautious and avoid returning calls from unknown international numbers. The company has specifically warned against numbers with foreign country codes like +880 (Bangladesh), +92 (Pakistan) or others.

Recognising and Avoiding the Scam

Here are some tips to protect yourself

1. Do not call back unknown international numbers.

2. Check the country code before dialling any number.

3. Report suspicious numbers to your telecom operator or the cybercrime department.

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The Bigger Picture

Premium rate services are legitimate telecom offerings where calls to certain numbers are charged at higher rates. However scammers exploit this system to deceive people into making costly calls.

Always be cautious when you receive a missed call from an unknown number, especially international ones. Awareness and vigilance are your best defence against such scams.