Fraudsters are using silent calls not only to identify live numbers but also to gather speech data for sophisticated AI-powered voice scams, prompting renewed safety advice for phone users.
Phone users are being warned again about so-called silent calls, a tactic fraudsters use to check whether a number is live and worth targeting. CursorInfo, citing TCHN, said the calls typically connect and then go dead within seconds, leaving the recipient with little more than a brief moment of confusion.
According to Bitdefender, these calls are often the opening move in broader scam campaigns. Once a number is confirmed as active, it can be recycled for spam, phishing attempts, SMS fraud or other social-engineering attacks. Some criminals also use the brief exchange to collect snippets of speech, which may later help build convincing voice-clone scams powered by artificial intelligence.
The main risk is not just irritation but escalation. If a person calls back a suspicious number, they may be diverted to premium-rate or otherwise costly lines. Security specialists also caution that answering and engaging can signal that the number belongs to someone responsive, making it more attractive to fraudsters and call centres that trade in lists of reachable victims.
The safest approach is simple: do not return calls from unfamiliar numbers, end any silent call immediately, and block numbers that repeatedly try to reach you. If the caller might be genuine, check through a separate channel such as a messaging app or another known contact method rather than relying on the incoming call itself.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to inform and educate, not to recommend or endorse any financial product, investment or strategy. Please consider your own financial circumstances and seek professional advice where appropriate before making financial decisions.
