Prefixes 803, 806, 807 and 905: why they cost so much

You get a missed call from a number starting with 806 and your curiosity is piqued. Before you call back, it is worth knowing something: in Spain there are prefixes that cost money just to dial, and some can drain your balance in a matter of minutes. In this guide we explain which prefixes carry premium-rate charges, why they are so appealing to scammers and, above all, how to protect yourself.

How prefixes work in Spain

Not all phone numbers cost the same. Numbering in Spain is organised into blocks, and the prefix (the first digits after a geographic or mobile number) indicates what kind of service it is and, crucially, who pays for the call.

Broadly speaking, non-geographic prefixes are grouped as follows:

• 800 and 900 — Free calls. The cost is borne by the company receiving the call, not by you. These are the typical free-of-charge customer service numbers.
• 901 — Shared cost. You pay part and the company pays the rest. It is usually a moderate cost, similar to a local call.
• 902 — Cost to the caller. Here you pay for the whole call, normally more expensive than an ordinary call. It is not a "premium" rate, but it is a number worth avoiding when there is an alternative.
• 803, 806, 807 and 905 — Premium rate. These are the ones that can really send your bill soaring. This is where the abuse is concentrated.

If you want to understand in detail what each block corresponds to, you will find a breakdown on our prefixes page.

The premium-rate prefixes: 803, 806, 807 and 905

These are the numbers that can cost several euros per minute. Premium-rate charging exists for specific services in which the high price is part of the service itself. The problem is that this very billing model is perfect for fraud.

803 — Adult services

The 803 prefix is reserved for adult services (chat lines and the like). By their very nature, they are high-cost numbers aimed at a very specific audience. If you see a missed call from an 803 number, it almost never makes sense to call back.

806 and 807 — Leisure and entertainment

The 806 and 807 prefixes are used for leisure, entertainment and professional services: tarot and fortune-telling, competitions, "advice" lines, paid technical support, and so on. They are the main culprits behind fraudulent missed calls, precisely because their per-minute cost is high and the conversation can be dragged out artificially.

905 — Mass calling and televoting

The 905 prefix is used for mass-calling services, such as televoting on TV competitions or polls. You pay for the call, normally a fixed amount per attempt. Fraud here is less common, but not unheard of.

11888 and information services

Numbers starting with 118 (such as 11888, 11811, etc.) are directory enquiry and number-lookup services. They are not "premium" in the classic sense, but they can be surprisingly expensive: many charge a high connection fee plus a per-minute rate. Dialling one of these to "ask for a number" can end up far more expensive than you imagine.

Why scammers love these prefixes

The most widespread trick is the missed call (in English it is known as wangiri, which means "one ring and cut"). It works like this:

1. An automated system fires off thousands of calls to random numbers.
2. They hang up after the first or second ring, leaving a missed call.
3. They count on some people, out of curiosity or thinking it is important, calling back.
4. Whoever calls back dials, unknowingly, a premium-rate number and starts paying several euros per minute.
5. At the other end there may be a recorded message, hold music or a conversation designed to drag on. Every second counts at your expense.

The scammer's business lies in keeping a share of what you pay for that premium call. That is why they do not need to fool you with a product: all they need is for you to dial.

Other variants you will come across:

• SMS with a "call-back" number. You receive a message saying you have a parcel, a prize or a problem with your account, and they ask you to call a paid number.
• Fake technical support. Adverts or pop-up windows with a "help" phone number that is actually an 806/807.
• Competitions and fortune-telling. Genuine services, but very high cost and far from transparent practices about the price.

If you receive a call that gives you doubts, before doing anything review our guide to suspicious calls; it is designed precisely for these cases.

How to recognise a premium-rate number

The good news is that these prefixes are easy to identify before dialling. You just have to look at the first digits:

• Starts with 803, 806, 807 → premium rate, high cost. Be wary.
• Starts with 905 → mass call (televoting). Only use it if you are voluntarily taking part in something.
• Starts with 118 → information service, can be expensive.
• Starts with 800 or 900 → free for you.
• Starts with 901 or 902 → cost to you, but not "premium".

A classic warning sign: a missed call from a long or international number that you do not recognise and that has left no message. If no one with a legitimate reason is calling you from there, there is no need to call back.

What to do

If you come across one of these numbers, follow these steps:

1. Do not return missed calls you do not recognise. If it were something important, they would leave you a message or call again. This is, by far, the best defence.
2. Check the prefix before dialling. If it starts with 803, 806, 807 or 118, assume it costs money.
3. Look up the number before acting. You can check it in our spam number directory to see whether other people have already reported it.
4. Block the number on your phone so it cannot bother you again.
5. Ask your operator to block premium-rate calls. Many providers let you disable calls to 803/806/807 numbers free of charge. It is especially useful if there are children or elderly people in the household.
6. Check your bill. If you spot a charge for a premium number you do not recognise, file a complaint with your operator; they may refund the amount if there was fraud.
7. Report it. The more people who flag a number, the sooner we can warn everyone else.

If you believe you have been the victim of fraud or have doubts about your security, you can contact INCIBE on 017 (the cybersecurity helpline, free and confidential). Abusive practices involving premium-rate numbers can also be reported to the CNMC, the body that regulates numbering in Spain.

Cut unwanted calls off at the source

Beyond premium prefixes, if you receive a lot of commercial calls you never asked for, sign up for the Robinson List: it is the free advertising-exclusion register that requires companies not to contact you for commercial purposes. It does not stop scammers, but it does reduce the noise from legitimate advertising.

And if your goal is to save money on calls to businesses, remember that many 902 numbers have a free or geographic alternative. We tell you all about it in our guide to 902 alternatives.

In summary

The 803, 806, 807 and 905 prefixes (along with 118 services) are the ones that can genuinely cost you money, which is why they are the favourite tool of those who launch fraudulent missed calls. The golden rule is simple: if you do not recognise a number and it starts with one of these prefixes, do not call it back. Checking the prefix, not dialling on impulse and blocking premium-rate calls with your operator will save you from most of the trouble.

Has a suspicious number called you? Look it up and report it on NoCall to protect yourself and warn the whole community.