PHOENIX — If you were blasted by robocalls recently in the middle of the night, you're not alone.
The Arizona Attorney General's Office and the Federal Communications Commission confirm with ABC15 they're aware of the calls which appear to be coming from a foreign country. Many start with the numbers "222", the area code for Mauritania, in northwest Africa.
LET JOE KNOW: Are illegal robocalls clogging your phone?
They appear to be a part of the "one ring scam." The scam involves calling once and hanging up, hoping people call back. But don't fall for it. If you do, you could be charged big bucks for connecting with an international line.
Anyone else get a bunch of random calls at odd hours today? Unless you have family in Mauritania 🇲🇷 or other exotic locations, it’s best to ignore these unsolicited calls. DO NOT call back. Scammers hope you'll call back so they can pocket the cost of the expensive phone call. pic.twitter.com/Sz0FMdXlro
— Mark Brnovich (@GeneralBrnovich) May 1, 2019
It's unclear why this sudden surge of calls is causing phones to ring off the hook. But to cut down on them, sign up for the do not call registry. You can also file a complaint through the attorney general's office or the FCC.
