International Robocall Surge: Why Millions Are Suddenly Getting Missed Calls from 97 Codes
By Elena Rostova
Q1: Is there an actual country with the telephone code +97?
A1: No country uses just "+97". The International Telecommunication Union reserves the two-digit 97 sequence as a regional prefix for West Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East. Legitimate phone numbers always feature three digits, such as the United Arab Emirates (+971), Israel (+972), Bahrain (+973), Qatar (+974), Kuwait (+975), or Nepal (+977).
Q2: Can I be charged money simply for answering an incoming +97 call?
A2: No. Answering a call on a domestic mobile plan does not trigger premium rate charges, even if the incoming line originated overseas. The financial damage occurs exclusively when you call the number back, which routes your handset to offshore premium rate toll numbers billed to your provider account.
Q3: What should I do if I accidentally called back a +97 number?
A3: Hang up immediately. Document the exact timestamp, dialed number, and duration. Contact your cellular provider's fraud department within 24 hours to explain that you were targeted by a Wangiri robocall scheme. Request that they flag the destination IPRN and reject incoming wholesale settlement charges on your next billing cycle.
Elena Rostova holds a Master's degree in Public Health Journalism. She covers groundbreaking medical research, holistic wellness trends, mental health awareness, and nutritional science.
