The Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) has issued recommendations in response to the increase in telephone calls coming from the United Kingdom, in order to prevent people from becoming victims of any crime. According to the General Directorate of Service Management, Cybersecurity, and Technological Development of the SSPC, it has been detected that users have reported receiving calls from numbers with international prefixes such as +44 from the United Kingdom, without knowing anyone in that region.
Among the most common methods used by cybercriminals is the missed call or Wangiri, where the scammer makes a brief call from an international number so that the victim returns it, connecting them to a premium rate line and generating charges. False job offers have also been identified, which promise large sums of money in exchange for simple tasks and request personal data to make unauthorized charges. Another tactic is automated messages that seek to induce the victim to follow links or share personal information compromising their security.
Some warning signs of possible phone scams include receiving calls from foreign numbers that hang up after ringing once, offers of quick profits or easy jobs that pressure immediate action, as well as requests for upfront payment or personal data without apparent reason.
To avoid becoming a victim of phone fraud, it is recommended not to return calls from unknown numbers or with the +44 prefix, to verify job offers directly with companies through official channels, to report suspicious numbers to the authorities, to block and report the number, and to refrain from sharing personal or banking information over the phone.
