The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

A new phone scam is making the rounds in the U.S. Police are warning cell phone users about the "one-ring" scam. The scam uses auto dialers to call random cell phone numbers across the country. There is no danger in answering the call, it's when the customer returns the call, that the damage is done.

The scammers let the phone ring once, then hang up prompting the consumer to call back for the "missed call". When the victim returns the call, they hear a pre-recorded message telling them they have "reached the operator, please hold." It is during the hold time that the victim is being charged a monstrous per minute phone charge, as well as international rates. Police say the calls are coming from phone numbers with three digit area codes that look like they are in the U.S., when in actuality they are associated with international phone numbers.

The area codes being used by scammers include 268, 284, 473, 664, 649, 767, 809, 829, 849 and 876.

Police are advising consumers to ignore any calls from these numbers should they receive one. Customers are also advised not to call the numbers back without checking them on online directories or search engines first to see if the number has been listed as a scam number or to find out where the number is registered at.

If you feel you have been the victim of a phone scam, you are urged to contact your cell phone carrier, if you are unsuccessful with them, you should file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, or the Federal Communications Commission.