📞 Wangiri scam: never call back unknown foreign numbers
Wangiri is a scam where a foreign number rings once. How it works, which country codes to watch, and why you must never call back.
Sidst opdateret: 2026-06-23
What is wangiri?
Wangiri is Japanese for 'ring and cut'. It is a scam call where a — usually foreign — number calls you and hangs up after a single ring. The goal is to make you curious so you call back to an expensive premium-rate number, where the scammer earns money per minute.
Wangiri is not the same as spoofing: with wangiri it is a genuine foreign dialling code, while with spoofing the scammer fakes a Danish 8-digit number on your screen. In doubt about a number? Look it up here.
How the scam works — step by step
- An unknown foreign number calls you, often at night or mid-workday.
- The phone rings only once and hangs up — you see a 'missed call'.
- You get curious or worried and call back.
- The call is routed to a premium-rate number and you are kept on hold as long as possible.
- You are charged a high per-minute rate — it can add up to hundreds of kroner.
Country codes to watch out for
Wangiri calls often come from African dialling codes — i.e. country codes +2xx. High-risk codes to watch:
- +252 — Somalia
- +216 — Tunisia
- +234 — Nigeria
- +675 — Papua New Guinea
Tip: a Danish number has 8 digits and starts with +45. Any other code means abroad. Look the number up before you even consider calling back.
How to protect yourself
- Never call back unknown foreign numbers — not even if you answered and it hung up.
- Block the number in your phone settings.
- Never share personal details like bank info or MitID by phone.
- Telcos block many wangiri calls automatically — but not all, so stay alert.
- Report the number to your telco, and mark it here so others are warned.
What if you already called back?
Contact your telco about the bill as soon as possible and explain it was a wangiri scam. Watch your next phone bill for premium-rate charges. If you suspect misuse of your data, report it to the police at politi.dk.
Ofte stillede spørgsmål
Can I answer a call from a foreign number?
Answering normally costs you nothing. The expensive part is CALLING BACK an unknown foreign number — never do that.
What does calling back a wangiri number cost?
It can run into hundreds of kroner, because the number charges a high premium per-minute rate and keeps you on the line as long as possible.
Which country codes should I watch?
Especially African codes (+2xx) — e.g. Somalia +252, Tunisia +216, Nigeria +234 — and Papua New Guinea +675. A Danish number has 8 digits and starts with +45.
How do I tell if a number is Danish or foreign?
Danish numbers have 8 digits and the +45 code. Any other code means abroad. You can always look the number up here to see the country.
Where do I report a wangiri scam call?
Report the number to your telco via their 'report a number' page, and mark it here so others are warned.
Kilder
Flere guides
How to stop spam calls · Smishing: how to spot fake scam texts (PostNord, MitID, bank) · Sådan blokerer du spam- og fupopkald på iPhone og Android · What does +45 mean? · How does Nummeropslag.dk work? · Danish phone numbers: types and structure · MitID- og banksvindel på telefonen: sådan undgår du fælden · "Hej mor"-svindel og AI-stemmer: sådan tjekker du, om det er ægte · Hvem ringer fra et 70-, 80- eller 90-nummer? (og hvad koster det) · Ukendt dansk nummer ringede — sådan finder du ud af, hvem det er · Spamopkald i Danmark — sådan stopper og anmelder du dem