An unknown number calls you; you answer, but there is silence on the line. After a few seconds, the call cuts out, and the situation repeats itself later. Such calls may be the result of automated call centres, technical faults or fraudulent schemes. We explain why strangers remain silent on the line, whether it\u2019s dangerous to answer such calls, and how to get rid of these persistent calls for good.<\/p>\n
One of the most common reasons for silent calls is \u2014 automated telephone systems<\/strong>, which are used by call centres<\/a>, advertising agencies and sales departments.<\/p>\n Such systems are capable of dialling a large number of numbers simultaneously and connecting callers to available agents. If a caller answers but no call centre agent is available, there is silence on the line or the call is automatically terminated.<\/p>\n The British telecoms regulator, Ofcom, confirms that automatic dialling is one of the main causes of so-called silent calls<\/em><\/strong> \u2014 silent calls. Sometimes the system mistakenly identifies a real person as an answering machine and cuts the call short.<\/p>\n There are other reasons as well: poor connection, faulty telephone equipment, dialling the wrong number, or deliberate actions on the part of the subscriber.<\/p>\n A silent call in itself does not prove that you have been called by fraudsters. However, if you are regularly bothered by unknown numbers, particularly with short calls, it is worth checking them and setting up protection.<\/p>\n One of the well-known telephone scams is called Wangiri<\/em><\/strong>, or the \u00abone-ring scam\u00bb. The principle behind it is that fraudsters ring a number and quickly hang up, counting on the phone owner\u2019s curiosity.<\/p>\n A person sees a missed call and calls back. If the number is for an international premium-rate service, such a call may incur additional charges.<\/p>\n The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns of such incidents and advises against calling back suspicious unknown numbers, particularly those with unfamiliar international dialling codes.<\/p>\n Another risk is the spoofing of a telephone number, known as caller ID spoofing<\/em>. Using specialised techniques, fraudsters can make it appear as though the screen is displaying the number of a bank, a government agency or a standard Ukrainian mobile number.<\/p>\n Therefore, even a familiar operator code or organisation name on the screen does not guarantee that the call is actually coming from them.<\/p>\n A common fear is that simply answering a call from an unknown number or saying \u00abhello\u00bb is enough for fraudsters to gain access to your bank card.<\/p>\n Ordinary Answering a phone call does not, in itself, give the caller access to a bank account<\/strong>, passwords or apps on a smartphone. Nor is there any reason to believe that money is automatically debited simply by saying the word \u00abyes\u00bb.<\/p>\n The danger arises when a person follows the instructions of cybercriminals: by disclosing confidential information, entering codes they have been sent, opening suspicious links, installing remote access programmes, or transferring money.<\/p>\n You need to be particularly careful if, following silent calls, you receive a call purporting to be from the bank\u2019s security department.<\/p>\n The National Bank of Ukraine emphasises that bank staff must not ask customers for PINs, CVV codes, passwords or one-off transaction verification codes.<\/p>\n If the person you are speaking to asks for such information, you should end the conversation and contact the bank yourself via the official app or the number on the back of your card.<\/p>\n If nobody speaks after you\u2019ve answered the call, there\u2019s no need to stay on the line for long. You can end the call and check the number in the call log.<\/p>\n When calls are repeated, it is advisable to take the following steps:<\/p>\n Don\u2019t rush to change your phone number after just one or two mysterious calls. It\u2019s usually enough to start by checking your phone settings and blocking unwanted callers.<\/p>\n iPhone owners can not only block specific numbers, but also automatically mute calls from contacts who are not in their address book.<\/p>\n To do this in the latest versions of iOS, you need to:<\/p>\nHow fraudsters use short and silent calls<\/h2>\n
Can fraudsters withdraw money just by answering a phone call?<\/h2>\n
What to do if someone calls and doesn\u2019t say anything<\/h2>\n
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How to block unknown numbers on an iPhone<\/h2>\n