Hoaxes & Rumors

Phone Calls From 375 or 371

waffles

August 1, 2013

Today we look at warnings regarding phone calls from phone numbers beginning with 375 or 371. These warnings state that calling such numbers back can result in high charges on your phone bill.

371 and 375 “Area Codes”

The “area codes” in question are actually country codes, and they originate from Latvia (371) and Belarus (375). Area codes 371 and 375 do not currently exist in the United States. Social media and email messages circulating online have stated the following regarding these numbers:

People have been receiving calls from 375602605281 & 37127913091 or any number starting with a 375 or 371 number. One ring & they hang up leaving a missed call message. If you call back it’s one of those numbers that are charged $15-$30 and they can copy your contact list in 3 seconds. If you have a bank or credit card details on yours phone they can copy that too!!!! 375 is from Belarus and Afghanistan …. 371 is the code for Latvia. DON’T ANSWER OR CALL BACK.

The warning contains true and false elements. Let’s take a look at the specific details of this claim.

Calls from 375 or 371 Numbers

Have people received calls from 375 and 371 numbers?

This part of the claim above is true. Some cell phone users have reported receiving calls beginning with 375 and 371. Some users called these numbers back and incurred charges as a result.

$15 to $30 Charges for Calling Back

Can you be charged $15 to $30 for calling a 375 or 371 number back?

This will depend where the call is routed. In some cases, you will be charged whatever your carrier’s rate is for calling that country. AT&T customers, for example, can expect to pay $2.50 to $4.99 per minute to Belarus, and $1.50 to $2.29 to Latvia.

If, however, the call is routed to a “premium” hotline, it is possible that an instant “connect fee” could be charged to your account.

Calling These Numbers May Allow Hackers to Steal Your Info

Is is possible for someone to copy your bank details by a mere phone call?

According to IT expert Vijay Mukhi. “It is impossible to copy someone’s contacts and bank details from a phone, without hacking into it.”

What if I Called Back?

If you called the number back, you should inspect your bill to see if any unusual charges appeared as a result. If so, you can try contacting your carrier to ask that the charges be removed.

Ways to Protect Yourself

The best thing to do should you receive a call from a number beginning with 375 or 371 is to simply ignore it.

There are certain steps you can take to keep your phone and info safe, particularly if you use online banking with your mobile device. MSN Money suggests:

Password-protect your phone
Install an app which allows you to remotely wipe your phone’s data
Install anti-malware software
Banking alerts via email and text
Don’t text sensitive data
Don’t engage in sensitive data transactions while using a public wi-fi hotspot

One Ring Scam

Much of the information above reflects warnings about the “one-ring scam” which has received significant press in recent years. See our full discussion of the one-ring scam here.

Bottom Line

If you see a call from a number beginning with 375 or 371, it’s best to simply ignore it.

Sources

Did you get a call from a +375 number? (Mid-Day: June 13, 2012)
Is it safe to bank by cell phone? (Liz Weston, MSN Money: February 25, 2011)