Town: Beware of 'One Ring' Cell Phone Scam

North Hempstead officials are warning residents about a “one ring” phone scam. The scam involves targeting individuals who return a missed called from an international number.

The scam targets cell phone numbers, by dialing and hanging up, resulting in a missed call. Those who return the call will often be placed on hold, resulting in phone call charges per minute in addition to being subject to an international rate. Identifying these types of calls is often difficult because they come from numbers with three digit area codes that appear as if they were placed from within the United States, officials said.

Commonly used area codes used by the scammers include, but are not limited to, 268, 284, 473, 664, 649, 767, 809, 829, 849, and 876, according to authorities.

Cell phone owners should protect themselves by checking the phone number and area codes by using an online search engine to see whether they are legitimate or coming from an international location. Those who have been targeted should speak to their cell phone carrier and if necessary, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission.