# I called a 268 number back and got a busy signal--am I gonna pay?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 7, 2014, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742 "2014-02-07T08:14:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2014, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742/1 "2014-02-07T08:14:30Z")
This is about the one-ring scam, which I just learned about. _Sigh._
> **[What is a 'One-Ring' Scam?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/one-ring-scam/)**
>
> Warnings of a 'one-ring scam' in which telephone customers return hang-up calls from foreign phone numbers and get charged hefty fees are greatly exaggerated.
I tried to call a 268 number back the other day. I just got a busy signal. Is that part of the scam, and will I still be charged? Or does the fact that I got a busy signal mean that I didn’t connect and _won’t_ be charged. I’m not used to getting a busy signal for anything these days, so I don’t know.
Thanks for your help!
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### Author:  [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2014, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742/2 "2014-02-07T09:38:21Z")
The busy tone doesn’t mean much.
The PABX or equivalent at the other end can tell the phone company that the call is answered, instantly. The busy tone you hear is the ring tone the PABX generates.
Then you hang up, and both ends hang up.
On the other hand, the busy tone may a true busy, so its like it was never a call,
or it may be your telephone company blocking the call.
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### Author:  [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742/3 "2014-02-07T15:03:46Z")
If the first thing you hear after dialing is the busy signal, that would mean that your call was never completed and the recipient phone system was never activated. It is a form of intercept, that truncated the call before it reached its destination, which was not available to receive it. Your phone company will not charge you. However, you will be charged if you hear any other sound, like a pickup, before the busy signal – this is a well-known scam.
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### Author:  [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742/4 "2014-02-07T15:12:24Z")
> [@Aeschines](#):
>
> I tried to call a 268 number back the other day.
Can I ask a serious question-no snark or putdown intended. Why would you or anyone call back a number you don’t know that didn’t leave a message? Could have been a wrong number, or a telemarketer, so why call?
If this seems like a hijack, just ignore it, but it does baffle me.
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2014, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742/5 "2014-02-07T15:18:16Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#):
>
> Can I ask a serious question-no snark or putdown intended. Why would you or anyone call back a number you don’t know that didn’t leave a message? **Could have been a wrong number, or a telemarketer, so why call?**
>
> If this seems like a hijack, just ignore it, but it does baffle me.
Or it could be a family member calling from a different phone. Or a out of town relative and it’s the hospital calling.
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### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2014, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742/6 "2014-02-07T15:25:23Z")
> [@running\_coach](#):
>
> Or it could be a family member calling from a different phone. Or a out of town relative and it’s the hospital calling.
And not leaving a message?
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### Author:  [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2014, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742/7 "2014-02-07T16:12:26Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#):
>
> Can I ask a serious question-no snark or putdown intended. Why would you or anyone call back a number you don’t know that didn’t leave a message? Could have been a wrong number, or a telemarketer, so why call?
>
> If this seems like a hijack, just ignore it, but it does baffle me.
There is actually a reason. I put my number in an ad and was thinking it might be someone interested. I had not heard of this scam before that, and these numbers appear to be from the US, so there seemed to be no risk in trying…
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### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742/8 "2014-02-07T16:17:06Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#):
>
> And not leaving a message?
You’d be surprised how many people don’t leave messages. Inability to use the system is what I call it.
> [@Aeschines](#):
>
> There is actually a reason. I put my number in an ad and was thinking it might be someone interested. I had not heard of this scam before that, and these numbers appear to be from the US, so there seemed to be no risk in trying…
You do know that Caller ID spoofing is possible? And what **appears** to be the calling number may not even be in the same hemisphere?
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### Author:  [@bizerta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizerta)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2014, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742/9 "2014-02-07T21:05:55Z")
> [@Aeschines](#):
>
> This is about the one-ring scam, which I just learned about. _Sigh._
>
> [What is a 'One-Ring' Scam? | Snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/onering.asp)
>
> I tried to call a 268 number back the other day. I just got a busy signal. Is that part of the scam, and will I still be charged? Or does the fact that I got a busy signal mean that I didn’t connect and _won’t_ be charged. I’m not used to getting a busy signal for anything these days, so I don’t know.
>
> Thanks for your help!
Are you sure it was a busy signal? The scam could be a recording of a busy signal just so you’ll dial again, and again, and again.
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### Author:  [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742/10 "2014-02-07T21:18:39Z")
> [@Aeschines](#):
>
> these numbers appear to be from the US, so there seemed to be no risk in trying…
That’s the trick. The scammers rely on people to view the area codes as “appear to be from the US.” Well, that’s not accurate. Area codes in the US and a few other countries are assigned per the [North American Numbering Plan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Numbering_Plan).
For your information, [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Numbering_Plan#NANP_countries_and_territories) the list of “25 countries and territories” subject to the plan.
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### Author:  [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2014, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742/11 "2014-02-07T23:57:26Z")
Thanks, guys! This is just one of those times where I was ignorant. I hope I won’t have to try to get AT&T to reverse some sort of charge…
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### Author:  [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2014, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742/12 "2014-02-08T00:01:11Z")
Why not call your phone service help line now and have them check your account?
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### Author:  [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2014, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742/13 "2014-02-08T04:21:14Z")
When I see on my missed-incoming-call log that I missed an incoming call, if I’m feeling so ambitions, I will look up the area code to see where it came from (or where it allegedly came from). Sometimes I will call the number back, if it appears to come from within the United States. (Typically, I do this if the caller left a message and it seems to be from a collection agency and it looks like they’re trying to nail somebody else and they’ve been calling me repeatedly for weeks and I finally want to call them back and tell them to go to hell. Even then, that rarely succeeds. :mad:)
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### Author:  [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2014, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742/14 "2014-02-08T05:29:41Z")
> [@Aeschines](#):
>
> This is about the one-ring scam, which I just learned about. _Sigh._
>
> [What is a 'One-Ring' Scam? | Snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/onering.asp)
>
> I tried to call a 268 number back the other day. I just got a busy signal. Is that part of the scam, and will I still be charged?
No. You’ll die in seven days, but you definitely won’t be charged.
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### Author:  [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2014, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742/15 "2014-02-09T06:04:27Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#):
>
> Can I ask a serious question-no snark or putdown intended. Why would you or anyone call back a number you don’t know that didn’t leave a message? Could have been a wrong number, or a telemarketer, so why call?
>
> If this seems like a hijack, just ignore it, but it does baffle me.
Whoever it was obviously has your number already, so it’s not like you’re giving away anything by trying to call them back.
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### Author:  [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2014, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742/16 "2014-02-09T13:58:47Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#):
>
> Whoever it was obviously has your number already, so it’s not like you’re giving away anything by trying to call them back.
You’re giving away your time.
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### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2014, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742/17 "2014-02-09T14:11:26Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#):
>
> Can I ask a serious question-no snark or putdown intended. Why would you or anyone call back a number you don’t know that didn’t leave a message? Could have been a wrong number, or a telemarketer, so why call?
>
> If this seems like a hijack, just ignore it, but it does baffle me.
I HATE that.
When I got that call, I started to call it back but I had a few minutes so I googled it and found out it was a scam. Someone was advising their message board about it and a ton of people piled on the OP for even suggesting that anyone would ever answer a number they don’t know or, heaven forbid, call it back.
I always answer my phone and will even call back unknown numbers. Until this latest scam, what’s going to happen. I effin hate it when friends/family sit there and stare (literally) at there phone saying “this number has called me three times this week”…“SO ANSWER IT!!!” It’s always funny when I end up answering it just to find out it’s, say, Volkswagen trying to find out how their last oil change was or Time Warner Cable calling to see how their experience was when they stopped in to drop of their cable box.
People, you’re not going to get kidnapped over the phone.
Anyways, with how widespread this scam is and with how clear it is that it’s a scam, I’d like to see the carriers cut them off. Yes, I know there’s money in it for them as well, but right now the carriers are sitting on the money (since it just started so most customers haven’t been billed yet). Don’t bill the customers for the calls and don’t pay the scammers.
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### Author:  [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742/18 "2014-02-09T16:05:44Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#):
>
> Whoever it was obviously has your number already, so it’s not like you’re giving away anything by trying to call them back.
Never heard of an [autodialer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autodialer)? It’s not that they have your number, bur rather they simply set their program to call every number in a block of numbers. If the number isn’t active, the program simply moves onto the next number in the sequence.
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### Author:  [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742/19 "2014-02-09T16:08:00Z")
[quote=“Senegoid, post:13, topic:680742”]
Sometimes I will call the number back, if it appears to come from within the United States. /QUOTE]
See Post #13.
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### Author:  [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2014, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742/20 "2014-02-09T16:10:53Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#):
>
> You’re giving away your time.
And the fact that you are gullible.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-called-a-268-number-back-and-got-a-busy-signal-am-i-gonna-pay/680742.md?page=2)