They call and hang up: why it happens and what to do
You get calls that hang up instantly, sometimes in a loop. Find out whether it is a call centre, an active-line check, or a scam attempt.
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They call and hang up: why it happens and what to do
The phone rings once or twice and when you answer there is nobody there, or they hang up straight away. These «ghost calls» are among the most reported: the NoCall community maintains a large database of user-contributed reports on numbers that behave this way.
1. What is behind these calls
- Autodialler — a telemarketing call centre dials more numbers than it has free agents; if nobody is available, the call drops.
- Active-line check — systems verifying that your number answers, so they can call you later or sell the list.
- Wangiri — a deliberate missed call so that you call back a premium-rate number.
2. Do not call back yet
Beware of foreign numbers. If the missed call is from an international prefix you do not recognise, do not call back: the wangiri scam relies on you biting and calling a pay-per-call number.
3. Check the number on NoCall
Look the number up in the large NoCall database of numbers. If other users report the same «call and hang up» pattern, you know it is not a call worth returning.
4. Block and report
Block the number from your call history and report it on NoCall to warn other users. If the calls keep coming from different numbers, turn on automatic filtering and read how to block spam calls.
Why do they call me and hang up right away?
Most often it is a telemarketing autodialler with no free agents, or a system checking that your line is active so it can call you later. It can also be the start of a wangiri scam.
Should I call back if they call and hang up?
No — especially if the number is foreign or unknown: calling back is exactly what the wangiri scam wants, connecting you to a premium-rate number.
How do I stop receiving hang-up calls?
Block the number, turn on your phone spam filter, and report the number on NoCall so other users know it is a ghost-call line.
Sources and review
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Article details
Editorial content reviewed by NoCall with practical context for spotting suspicious calls and messages.
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