The Shreveport Police Department is warning the public that a phone scam is making the rounds. Scammers are on the loose, hitting locals with the “One Ring” phone scam to rack up expensive charges.
Here’s how the scam works:
- A person’s phone rings once—just enough to make them wonder, “Who was that?”
- The person calls back, thinking it’s important.
- BOOM—the phone has just connected to a high-fee international number.
These scammers are slick, using numbers that look local but might actually be from places like the Turks and Caicos (649) or the Dominican Republic (809). They might even leave a voicemail saying that a person has won a prize or a relative is sick—DON’T FALL FOR IT!
So, how can the public stay scam-free? SPD has some tips.
- Don’t answer unknown numbers, and don’t call back.
- Google sketchy area codes before dialing.
- Ask the phone carrier to block international calls if they aren’t needed.
- Trust the gut—if it smells fishy, it’s probably a scam.
Anyone who thinks they have been tricked should contact their phone provider ASAP to dispute charges. And remember—if it only rings once, it’s probably not worth the call back.