Authorities are warning about a new type of international scam that uses numbers with a UK code (+44). Victims receive brief calls to encourage them to return the call and activate multimillion-dollar charges.
A new wave of fraudulent calls with the +44 area code (UK) has Mexican users on alert. The modus operandi, known as “wangiri” (a Japanese term meaning “cut”), consists of missed calls intended to trick victims into calling back and incurring exorbitant charges.
How does the scam work?
Criminals make short calls that are cut off before being answered. When returning the call:
- Connects to premium lines with rates up to $100 USD per minute
- In some cases, unauthorized subscriptions are activated
- They can record voices for identity theft
@netnoticias.mx ¿Recibes llamadas desde Reino Unido (+44)? Cuelga y evita estafas. #Nacional #Llamadas #Netnoticiasmx ♬ sonido original – NetNoticiasMx
French media outlet L’union confirmed that these calls originate in Albion, United Kingdom , using the +44 prefix to give the phone a legitimate appearance. On social media, users report receiving up to 10 calls a day from the same number.
Safety recommendations
- Do not return international calls from unknown numbers
- Block and report suspicious numbers
- Verify contacts of relatives abroad by other means
- Ignore SMS with links from foreign numbers
Although some users joke about calls from “One Direction ,” experts warn that answering could compromise personal data. Condusef recommends periodically reviewing account statements to detect unrecognized charges.
This scheme, detected in Spain in 2024, is now affecting Latin America. Authorities urge extreme caution , as scammers are constantly updating their methods to evade blocking.
