A single missed call could be all it takes to rack up triple-digit charges, as British phone owners are warned over a surge in "one-ring" scam calls linked to premium-rate 084 numbers. The scam is simple, and brutally effective. The scammer will make a phone call which rings once and then abruptly stops. They are relying on curiosity over the potential caller to prompt a call back on the number - and that's when the extortionate charges begin.

Users on a UK-based digital voice provider Phonely's "Who Called Me" platform have increasingly flagged suspicious "one-ring" calls designed to trick people into calling back over recent months. Complaints include "This number rings once then stops", "Daily scam, one ring then disconnects", "Rings for two seconds then cuts off" whilst others say the real shock comes later, when the bill arrives: "Surprise £10 charge on my bill from this number","Received £10 worth of charges for a number I don't recognise", "£110 outgoing charge appeared!"

These calls often come from numbers starting with 0843, 0845 or similar prefixes, which are not standard UK numbers.

Unlike normal calls, these lines come with two separate charges. Firstly there is an access charge set by a phone provider that can be up to around 50p per

minute on some networks, followed by a service charge which is set by the organisation you're calling (for 0843 numbers, up

to 7p per minute)

That means a single call could cost well over 50p per minute, and potentially more

depending on your network provider.

And scammers are counting on you staying on the line.

Victims report being placed on hold indefinitely, passed between fake departments and getting trapped in long recorded messages - all while the clock, and the cost, keeps ticking.

Which numbers are the most dangerous?

Not all non-standard numbers are equal, but some are far riskier:

0843 & 0844 numbers - Commonly linked to callback scams, with service

charges up to 7p/min + access charge

0845 numbers - Also chargeable, though typically slightly lower service fees

09 numbers (e.g. 08944) - Even more expensive premium-rate lines, often

costing £1+ per minute, with some far higher

Consumers are being urged to:

Never call back unknown numbers, especially 084 or 09 prefixes

Search the number online first

Hang up immediately if you're kept waiting

Block repeat callers

Bryn Thompson, Director at Phonely said: "That call might last just a second, but calling back can trigger charges straight away.

"We've seen cases where people are hit with unexpected fees simply for returning a

missed call. If a number looks unfamiliar, it's safest to ignore it. A quick check online could save

you from a nasty surprise on your bill."