Missed cell calls from Russia’s, Switzerland area codes irk Guyanese

Georgetown:  Guyanese countrywide over the weekend received cellphone calls from Russian and Switzerland area codes.

These included calls from +7 956 005-66-73; +41 74 277 36; +7 956 005-66-31; +7 956 005-66-32; +7 956 005-66-71 amongst others

Attorney-at-Law, James Bond, took to Facebook and issued a warning: “For the persons getting calls from Russian numbers, please note elections are in the air and someone has contracted experts to probably create a database. Expect text messages and emails next.”

Bond also said, “Additionally, these should be scammers, so please do not call back.”

Reports of calls from mysterious foreign numbers have surfaced in America, Canada, South American countries and elsewhere, over the past five years, from countries such as Russia and Belarus. These were found to be one-hit scams; a ruse with the intent of getting curious victims to return the calls, inadvertently agreeing to hefty rates being taken from their mobile credit.

Minister of Telecommunications Cathy Hughes said she has requested information from both the Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Co Ltd (GTT) and Digicel on the matter.

“I’ve asked for some information from both of the phone companies and I haven’t received any response as yet,” she said, adding, that as soon as this becomes available, the public will be informed.

Reports indicate these were found to be one-hit scams; a ruse with the intent of getting curious victims to return the calls, inadvertently agreeing to hefty rates being taken from their mobile credit.