- Lewis County Sirens.com - https://lewiscountysirens.com -

News brief: It’s a scam

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)