A foreign number is calling me: what to do and how to block it

A foreign number is calling me: what to do and how to block it

Your phone shows a number starting with +44, +1, +225, +855 or a code you do not even recognise. You have no family or business there and you are not expecting anything from abroad. Maybe it rang once and stopped; maybe there was silence when you picked up; maybe someone started talking about a job, a parcel or your bank. Calls from abroad are not dangerous in themselves, but many of them are the start of a scam. Here is what is really going on and how to protect yourself. The basic rule: do not call back numbers you do not recognise, and never give details to an unexpected caller.

Why am I getting calls from abroad if I don't know anyone there?

• A missed call designed to make you call back (wangiri). It rings once and hangs up. If you return the call, you may be connected to an expensive international or premium-rate number, and your airtime runs down while a recording keeps you on the line.
• Checking for active numbers. Silent calls, or calls that hang up as soon as you answer. They mark your number as "live" so it can be sold on other lists.
• Scams with someone on the line. A person or recording pretends to be your bank, a courier, tech support, an investment adviser or a recruiter. Job and crypto offers often start this way and then move to WhatsApp or Telegram.
• Spoofed numbers. The number on your screen may not be the real one. Callers can display almost any number, foreign or local. The code does not tell you for sure where the call comes from.

Does it cost money to answer an international call?

Generally, receiving a call on your Nigerian line does not cost you anything; the cost falls on the caller. The risk is in calling back, which is charged at international rates, and in what you say or do during the call. If you are roaming abroad, receiving calls may be charged; check with your network.

What are the warning signs?

• One ring and they hang up, or repeated missed calls at odd hours.
• A code from a country you have no connection with.
• Silence when you answer, or a recording asking you to press a key or call another number.
• Urgency and pressure: "your account will be blocked", "your parcel is on hold", "final notice".
• Requests for details or codes: BVN, NIN, PIN, card numbers, an OTP you just received.
• They ask you to install an app or open a link to "verify" something.
• Job or investment offers you never applied for.

What should I do right now?

1. Do not return the missed call. If it was important, they will call again or send a message.
2. If you answer and were not expecting the call, give no information and do not press keys a recording asks you to.
3. Hang up and check for yourself. If they claim to be your bank, a company or a government agency, call the official number on their website, your card or your documents.
4. Look up the number in the spam numbers directory to see whether others have reported it.
5. Block the number from your call log.
6. Report it, so the next person who sees it knows what they are dealing with.

How do I block calls from abroad?

1. Block specific numbers. On both iPhone and Android you can block any number from your call history. Campaigns change numbers often, but it still helps.
2. Silence unknown callers. iPhone can silence calls from numbers not in your contacts, and many Android phones include a spam filter or an option to block unknown numbers in the Phone app.
3. Ask your network about call barring. Networks can usually bar outgoing international or premium calls on a line. If you never call abroad, ask your network whether this is available, so nobody in your household calls back by mistake.
4. Use Do-Not-Disturb for promotions. You can text STOP to 2442 to reduce promotional calls and SMS on your line. It does not block scammers, but it cuts the noise.
5. Use a caller ID app. NoCall shows you whether an incoming number has been reported by other users before you answer.

What if I already called back or gave my details?

• You returned the call. Hang up as soon as you are suspicious. Check your airtime balance and call history, and contact your network if you see an unusual charge. If the network does not resolve your complaint, escalate to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on its toll-free 622 line, following the NCC complaint procedure.
• You gave bank details or a code. Call your bank's official number immediately to block cards and transactions, and change your banking passwords from a device you trust.
• You installed an app they asked for. Disconnect your phone from the internet, uninstall the app, and if it had remote control or access to your banking, call your bank.

Where do I report it?

• Your network, and if needed the NCC through its consumer portal or on 622, for nuisance and scam calls.
• The police, at a station or through the Nigeria Police Force's National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) e-reporting portal, if you lost money or your details were used. Financial fraud can also be reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
• Your bank, always through its official number, for transactions you do not recognise.
• 112, only for a genuine emergency, such as a threat to your safety.

Frequently asked questions

Can they steal money just because I answered? No. Answering alone does not give anyone access to your money. The risk comes from calling back expensive numbers or giving information during the call.

Why do they always call from the same country? Scam campaigns buy blocks of numbers in particular countries and use them until they are reported, then move on. The country tells you little about who is really calling.

What if the number shown is local but the caller talks about another country? The number could be spoofed or a local line used by an international network. Apply the same rules: give nothing, hang up and verify.

Is blocking a whole country code a good idea? Only if you are sure you will never receive legitimate calls from that country. Many Nigerians have family, schools or business abroad, so blocking individual numbers and using a caller ID app is usually more practical.

In short

An unexpected call from abroad is a reason for caution, not panic. Do not call back, give no details, hang up and verify through official channels, and block and report the number. If you already called back or shared details, contact your network or your bank straight away. And report the number in the NoCall spam numbers directory.