Are you one of the many people that have received a late night call from the area listed as Sierra Leone? Don’t be quick to call back, especially if you don’t recognize the name or telephone number.

On #FraudFriday, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials shared the Federal Communications Commission’s warning the public of the “one-ring” phone scam.

How this scam works:
• Scammers allegedly target specific area codes in spurts and often call multiple times late at night. They immediately hang up after one or two rings.
• When you call the telephone number back, a cost is paid to the scammer. It is not just the fee, you also can be charged with significant charges per minute for as long as they keep you on the phone. The victim will eventually notice the charges on their bills as “premium” charges.

How to avoid this scam:
• Don’t answer or return any calls from numbers you don’t recognize.
• Check to see if the area code is international.
• If you don’t make international calls, have your local telephone company block outgoing international calls on your line.
• Always be cautious, even if a number appears authentic.

Blocking specific numbers don’t always work because scammers constantly change telephone numbers, so it is recommended to block international calls or calls from specific regions.

Robocalls are becoming a nuisance. Know how to ward off these types of calls, prevent them and avoid being a victim of this potential scam.

If you feel that you are a victim of an international phone scam, you can file a complaint with the FTC here. https://bit.ly/2JuAhOC