By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The Washington State Office of the Attorney General is alerting the public to tricksters who are luring individuals to unknowingly rack up $9 per minute cell phone calls to adult entertainment hotlines.
Are you curious about a missed phone call from Antigua, Jamaica or some other exotic location, the office asked in a news release. The phone rings once, then disconnects and fraudsters are hoping you’ll call back, according to the office.
Don’t do it. here’s why:
Scammers are placing thousands of random calls to mobile numbers around the country.
Consumers could end up connected to a paid international “hot line” located outside the country and find themselves charged $19.95 for the international call fee and then an expensive per minute charge.
The advice? Think twice before answering a call, or returning a call, from an unrecognized number.
Reports about such calls indicate some have originated from the following places:
• Antigua or Barbuda (area code 268).
• Dominican Republic (809)
• Jamaica (876)
• British Virgin Islands (284)
• Grenada (473)