By Mohd Norzaidi Arjunaidi
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Bernama) – The phone rings and you pick up the call. You hear nothing but silence. No voice, no background noise – just a few seconds of nothing before the line cuts off.
It might seem harmless, even accidental. But according to CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM), that “silent call” could be the first step in a scam.
“Answering these calls might confirm your number as active, and that’s enough to land you on a target list for future scams,” said CSM Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Amirudin Abdul Wahab in an interview with Bernama.
He explained that scammers sometimes use such calls to collect voice metadata.
“Even if you keep quiet, the call can be recorded to identify your voice or background sounds. Once they know the number is active, it may be sold or used for further fraud,” he said.
A silent call typically ends less than 10 seconds after being answered. But it doesn’t always end there. Victims often receive follow-up messages or calls afterwards.
“In some cases, they’ll get an SMS saying their bank account will be suspended unless they call a number. Others receive WhatsApp messages with fake links or job offers.
“After a few rounds of silent calls, a scammer might call again pretending to be from a bank, courier service or government agency,” Amirudin said.
Scammers often go a step further by disguising their phone numbers to look local – a technique known as spoofing.
Silent or Accidental? How to Tell the Difference
However, not every silent call is a scam. Some are simply accidental calls or “pocket dials”, but there are clues that can help people tell the difference.
“If the calls come repeatedly, or from several different numbers, that’s suspicious. Scammers tend to use long or seemingly unusual international numbers, and there’s often no sign of a real person at the other end of the line. No breathing, no background chatter,” Amiruddin explained.
By contrast, genuine accidental calls usually have some background sound, or end quickly when the caller realises the mistake.
“Sometimes, the real giveaway is what happens next, such as a follow-up call from someone claiming to be from the bank, police or even the court,” he added.
What You Should Do
So what should a person do upon receiving a silent call?
Amirudin’s advice is simple: hang up immediately.
Ending the call right away prevents scammers or automated systems (known as robocalls) from marking your number as active.
Still, he understands why some people hesitate.
“Many worry that if they don’t answer, they might miss a call from a loved one in distress,” he said.
But if the call is truly important, he added, the caller will either try again or leave an SMS, WhatsApp or voice message.
Whatever happens, he warned, do not keep the line open or reveal any personal details.
“As a precaution, report any suspicious numbers to the authorities,” he said.
Smartphones today may filter such calls are their operating systems may have apps like Truecaller or Whoscall pre-installed. These can help detect spam numbers.
He also advised the public to check with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission or their telco provider to verify a number and report persistent spam activity.
Staying a Step Ahead
Blocking suspicious numbers is only one layer of defense. According to Amirudin, a proactive approach to safeguarding personal data is crucial. This includes:
Avoiding sharing personal phone numbers publicly
Educating family members, especially older relatives, on current scam tactics
Using separate numbers for personal and public use, where possible
Monitoring financial accounts regularly and verifying suspicious calls by contacting organisations through official channels
“Scammers are always finding new ways to reach you,” Amirudin warned. “Your best defense is awareness and caution before you answer.”
-- BERNAMA
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