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 rings and the screen shows a long number starting with "+", followed by a country code you do not recognise: +44, +852, +62, +1, +234. You have no friends or business there. Maybe it rings once and stops; maybe a recorded voice speaks in Mandarin or English. Most unexpected calls from overseas numbers are spam or scams, and the safest approach is simple: do not answer numbers you do not recognise, never call back, and check before you engage.

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

• Scam call centres operate overseas. Many of the scams that target Singapore residents, from government official impersonation to fake bank calls, are run from other countries.
• Numbers are dialled automatically. Systems call huge lists of numbers, including ones taken from data leaks or generated at random.
• Missed-call scams (wangiri). The phone rings once so that you call back, sometimes to a premium-rate number abroad.
• Spoofing. The number displayed may not be the real one. Calls can be made over the internet and show any number.

In Singapore, calls from overseas normally display a "+" sign in front of the number. This is one of the measures described on IMDA's anti-scam measures page, designed to help you tell an overseas call from a local one. So if a caller claims to be from a Singapore bank or government agency and the number starts with "+", treat that as a warning sign. A "+65" number calling from overseas is also suspicious.

Does it cost money to answer an international call?

Answering an incoming call while you are in Singapore usually does not cost you anything on a standard plan. The risk is in calling back: returning a call to an overseas number is charged at international rates, and premium-rate numbers can be expensive. When you are roaming overseas, answering calls may also be charged. Check your plan with your operator if in doubt.

What are the warning signs?

• A single ring and then nothing.
• A recorded voice claiming to be from a government agency, a bank, a courier or the police, asking you to press a number.
• A caller claiming to be local while the number begins with "+".
• Pressure to act immediately, threats or offers that sound too good.
• Requests for personal details, OTPs or payments.
• Repeated calls from different overseas numbers in a short time.

What should I do right now?

1. Do not answer if you do not recognise the number and are not expecting a call from abroad. A genuine caller will leave a message or contact you another way.
2. Do not call back.
3. If you answered, do not press any keys, do not confirm your name, and hang up if the caller asks for details or claims to be an official.
4. Look up the number in the spam numbers directory to see whether others have reported it.
5. If the caller claimed to be from your bank or a government agency, contact that organisation yourself through its official number. For anything you are unsure about, the ScamShield Helpline is 1799.

How do I block calls from abroad?

• Install the ScamShield app, which can block calls from numbers identified as scam numbers and filter scam SMS.
• Block individual numbers in your phone's call log.
• Silence unknown callers: iPhones have a "Silence Unknown Callers" setting, and many Android phones have similar options in the Phone app.
• Ask your operator whether it offers options to block or filter international calls on your line. Some operators provide this; check what applies to your plan.
• Use a call identification app like NoCall to see warnings from other users.

What if I already called back or gave my details?

1. If you only called back, check your next phone bill for international or premium charges and raise any unexpected charge with your operator.
2. If you gave banking details or an OTP, call your bank immediately on the official number; use its "kill switch" to freeze accounts if needed.
3. If you gave personal details, be alert for follow-up scams that use them to sound convincing.
4. If you lost money, make a police report through SPF e-services and follow ScamShield's I've been scammed checklist.

Where do I report it?

Report scam numbers through ScamShield, add them to the NoCall directory, and make a police report if you lost money. If you are threatened or in danger, call 999.

Frequently asked questions

Why does a "+65" number show up when the call is from abroad? Scammers spoof numbers to look local. Treat any caller who claims to be an official and asks for details or money with suspicion, whatever the number.

I'm expecting a call from abroad. How do I avoid missing it? Ask the person to message you first, or save their number in your contacts so you recognise it.

Will blocking one number stop the calls? Often not, because scammers rotate numbers. ScamShield and call filters help more than manual blocking.

Can answering expose me to hacking? Simply answering a call does not hack your phone. The risk comes from what you say or do during the call.

In short

An unexpected "+" on your screen usually means overseas, and often means spam or a scam. Do not answer unknown numbers, never call back, never give details, and verify any official claim yourself. Install ScamShield, and report the number in the NoCall spam numbers directory.