VoIP Fraud (Toll Fraud, Wangiri, etc.) Common Scams Explained (and How to Dodge Them)

VoIP makes business calling intelligent and less expensive, and fraudsters are fond of it as well. Knowledge about the typical scams can give your business a very expensive headache.

You have a missed call… a scammer?

Imagine this: you look at your company phone bill and almost spill your tea. Your business somehow has piled up international call bills in thousands overnight.

You did not just begin to sell to Fiji. You’ve been hit by VoIP fraud.

Fraudsters have devised ingenious methods to access existing businesses in the United Kingdom that have switched to cloud-based VoIP phone systems. But you need not fear; they can be spotted (and prevented) once you are made acquainted with their tricks.

What Exactly Is VoIP Fraud?

VoIP fraud, in plain English, is a situation in which criminals misuse your VoIP phone service (or your internet-based phone system) to make unauthorized calls, steal data, or profit on your phone lines.

Imagine that somebody borrowed your car without permission and went on a 3,000-mile joyride. You are paying for international call minutes instead of petrol.

VoIP scams are available in several unappetizing flavors, but the following are the most popular:

1. Toll Fraud

This is the granddaddy of telecom fraud.

Fraudsters break into your VoIP system and redirect expensive international calls using your network, usually to premium-rate numbers that they manage.

You pay the bills; they take the profits.

Real-world example:

One such UK small business was billed more than £8,000 over a weekend after attackers accessed its phone system and made calls to the Caribbean.

Business impact?
Beyond the financial loss, there’s the administrative chaos of reconciling bills, disputing charges, and freezing accounts, not to mention the lost confidence in your phone system.

2. Wangiri Fraud (“One Ring” Scam)

In Japanese, “wangiri” translates to “one” and “cut,” and that is precisely what it is.

You receive a missed call with an unknown international number. You dial back in curiosity… and are instantly charged high rates.

It is the telecommunications version of clicking a suspicious link driven by human curiosity.

3. Phishing & Vishing

Cybercriminals contact you by phone or e-mail, claiming to be representatives of your VoIP telephone provider. They may request logins or an immediate verification of an account.

The goal? To steal your VoIP credentials and resell them or to use them as part of business telephone systems in UK-wide scams.

4. Call Interception & Data Theft

VoIP runs over the internet. Fraudsters can then eavesdrop in on calls, record conversations, or get sensitive information without proper encryption.

“So how do I keep the scammers out?”

Good news: It is not rocket science to protect your VoIP phone system in business. It is largely common sense and a bit of digital housekeeping.

Here’s your anti-fraud checklist:

1. Use a password that is strong—not Admin123. Include a combination of symbols, numbers, and letters.
2. Limit international calling—block countries your business doesn’t deal with.
3. Enable call logging & alerts—be alerted when something seems fishy.

4. Get a good VoIP provider—such as PineVox (shameless plug, but fair). 

5. Update regularly—systems that are outdated are the targets of hackers. 

6. Educate your team—the best firewall is still a well-informed employee.

The Reason Why This Matters to Business Owners.

VoIP fraud is not only a headache in IT but also a continuity problem in business. A massive violation may cause interference, destroy confidence, and cripple cash flow.

Imagine that your phone system is the heartbeat of your company. When it is compromised, it slows down everything—customer service, sales calls, and even the guiding of suppliers.

That is why taking the initiative is not a choice; it is a necessity to conduct a reliable business in the cyber era.

Final Thought:
Crooks will never stop after easy money. However, with the proper business phone system and a little caution, your phones can be smarter and safer than theirs.