Calls from 212: origin, common scams and how to block them

  • The prefix +212 corresponds to Morocco and is used in numerous scams such as the missed call scam.
  • Cybercriminals try to get you to return their call or interact via WhatsApp in order to generate high charges or steal data.
  • It is essential not to return unknown calls, block suspicious numbers, and use anti-spam apps to filter calls.
  • If you have already been a victim, save the evidence, complain to your operator and file a report with the authorities.
Carlos ValienteUpdated on

13 minutes

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Calls from 212 are a scam

At any time we can receive a phone call from suspicious, long numbers or with a hidden number. In most cases the purpose of that call is to sell us something, change companies or something similar. But In the worst case scenario, we may encounter scams. which can be very expensive and leave our phone bill sky-high.

For some time many people have been receiving calls to your phone from numbers that include the prefix 212They're even being received through the WhatsApp application. Both messages and calls from phone numbers beginning with this strange international prefix have raised all sorts of questions.

If it has happened to you and you have received such calls our first recommendation is that you do not answerAnd here we're going to explain in detail where that phone number is from, what risks it entails, what other area codes are associated with similar scams, and the intentions of those behind this phone fraud.

Where is the prefix 212 from?

Prefix 212 phone scam

The first thing we are going to explain is where this prefix comes from, which can cause us many headaches. And it is that This number belongs to North Africa, specifically to the area of ​​MoroccoWhenever you see a number that starts with +212 (or 00212) you are looking at a Moroccan international number.

We must keep in mind that the numbers associated with that area code vary depending on the specific location from which the call is made. Furthermore, it is important to differentiate between local landlines y moving linessince the behavior and most common scams may vary slightly.

The most frequently reported local numbers or area codes The following are linked to 212; we've listed them here for easier identification:

  • Casablanca (+212) 520
  • Marrakesh (+212) 5243
  • El Youssoufia and Safi (+212) 5246
  • Beni Mellal, Berrechid, Mohammedia, El Jadida, Jouribga and Settat (+212) 521
  • The Kelaa des Sraghna (+212) 5242
  • Laayoune, Agadir, Ouarzazate, Dakhla and Essaouira (+212) 525

How you can see, the numbers that accompany it begin with the number 5This indicates that, in these cases, we are dealing with local landlinesHowever, you can also receive calls that begin with the number 6 after the international prefix, in which case they are usually moving lines located in Moroccan territory or special numbers used in many of these scams.

From Spain, if you only saw a number starting with 6 without the +212 in front, it would belong to a Spanish mobile line. Therefore, always look for the “+” sign or the initial “00”because they are what indicate that it is an international call. In this case, +212 or 00212 corresponds to Morocco.

These types of international prefixes are not dangerous in themselves; the problem arises when They are used as a tool for fraudtaking advantage of the lack of regulation or the special rates associated with certain numbers in those countries.

Beware of potential scams involving 212 and other area codes!

212 Missed Call Scam

Authorities have been aware of these scams for some time and have issued warnings through various channels. The Civil Guard was the most vocal in alerting the public about this phone number. They even reported it on the popular social network X (formerly Twitter). warning of possible telephone scams and smishing, a variant of phishing based on sending fraudulent SMS messages.

According to the Civil Guard and other consumer organizations, the purpose of these persistent calls is to to obtain money through the use of premium rate numbersThis procedure aims to scam users through organized groups. modus operandi It is based on making countless missed or very brief calls so that the recipient, faced with such insistence and either out of curiosity or ignorance, call back And the scam begins.

This technique is known as “Missed call scam”Cybercriminals make a very brief call (one or two rings) and hang up immediately. Their goal is to provoke curiosity or concern so that the user calls back. When this happens, The call is directed to a premium rate number., sometimes disguised under an international prefix such as 212.

Authorities have also identified other suspicious international prefixeswhich are usually used in schemes identical to that of 212. Among the most recurrent are:

  • +233Ghana.
  • +234: Nigeria.
  • +225: Ivory Coast.
  • +355Albania.
  • +62Indonesia.
  • +27: South Africa.
  • +216: Tunisia.
  • +222Mauritania.
  • +213Algeria.
  • +249Sudan.
  • +254Kenya.
  • +255: Tanzania.
  • +256Uganda.
  • +685: Western Samoa.
  • +94Sri Lanka.
  • +91: India.
  • +98: Iran.
  • +855Cambodia.
  • +39 / 0039: Italy or Vatican City (in certain reported cases).

The pattern may vary slightly depending on the country. Some of these prefixes are used as bait. fast loan offers with unbeatable conditions, sales of products at very low prices that are never sent, fake job offers, services of remote technical supportmalicious links or directly extortion messages.

WhatsApp, SMS and other variations of the 212 scam

WhatsApp prefix 212 scam

As we commented at the beginning, There are many occasions when they attempt to scam people through the WhatsApp application.You not only receive voice calls, but also text messages or video call attempts from numbers with the +212 prefix.

In these cases, scammers can:

  • Send generic messages like “Hello” or “Do you remember me?” to start a conversation.
  • Offer supposed easy jobsFor example, earning money simply by liking content or completing surveys.
  • Try phishing scams, asking you for personal or banking information under excuses such as verifying an account or completing a payment.
  • Launch threats or extortion (real or invented) so that you make an urgent transfer or send verification codes.

It is also common to smishingThis refers to SMS messages that appear to be from messaging companies, banks, or official institutions, but are actually designed to trick you into clicking a malicious link. Some of these links download malware or redirect you to phishing pages where passwords and financial data are stolen.

If you fall into the trap and return the call from your regular mobile line, you should know that you are calling a a premium-rate number located in a country with a different pricing regulation than Spain.In many cases, there are no such strict limits on the amounts and The cost per minute can be very highUnjustified charges of up to 500 euros or multiple high-value charges on invoices have been reported.

Therefore, the first thing we recommend is Do not return the call and block those numbers. both at the phone level and in your messaging apps.

How to identify a suspicious number before answering

Identify suspicious calls

Beyond the 212 scam, all these scams have one thing in common: The phone number is usually unknown and in many cases It has more digits or an international prefix. that doesn't ring a bell at all.

Some tips for recognizing them quickly:

  • Check if the number starts with the sign “+” or “00”This indicates that it is an international call.
  • Look at the first two or three digits after the "+". That's the country's international dialing codeIf it starts with 34Its origin is in Spain (although this does not guarantee that it is not spam, it reduces the chances of international scams).
  • Note that there are special cases of prefixes a single digit such as the United States and Canada (1), or Russia and Kazakhstan (7).
  • If you see a very long number with many digits or that doesn't fit the usual Spanish format, be suspicious and Don't return the call.
  • When in doubt, search for the number on the Internet (Google, websites like ListaSpam, or TrueCaller databases). If other users have already reported it, you'll see it in the comments.

Furthermore, the OCU (Organization of Consumers and Users) insists that The safest way to avoid the missed call scam is to never return calls from unknown numbers.If you think it could be something important, check the number carefully, investigate the area code, and at the slightest suspicion, block the contact.

How to block these numbers on Android, iOS, and WhatsApp

Block calls from the 212 area code

Blocking these numbers is very simple, both on Android and iOS.From the call log itself, we can nip the problem in the bud so they don't bother us again.

On most Android and iPhone phones, if you tap on the suspicious number or on the three dots to its right, a menu with different options will automatically appear. Among them is the one we're looking for called “Block contact"or a very similar name. With this simple gesture, we will prevent the annoying and dangerous calls from those numbers from happening again."

If we want block him also on the WhatsApp applicationThe steps are also very simple:

  • Open the specific WhatsApp chat with that unwanted number if you don't already have it open, or go to that chat window if you already had a conversation started.
  • Once inside, tap on the three dots in the upper right corner.
  • Select the “More…” option.
  • Choose the option of "Block contact".
  • You will see two options: "To block" o “Report and block”.
  • If you select "Block", that number will not be able to contact you again.
  • If you choose “Report and block”, in addition to blocking it, You will send a report to WhatsApp.If more reports accumulate, the platform may close the scammer's account.

Furthermore, many Android customization layers allow directly block entire prefixes:

  • Xiaomi (MIUI)Open the Phone app, go to Call settings, find the Block List section, and tap "Add prefix." Enter, for example, 00212 or +212 to block all calls starting with that code.
  • Samsung (One UI)From the Phone app, go to Blocked Numbers and add the desired area code. Change the match from exact to partial to block all numbers that share it.
  • Huawei (EMUI)To do this, open the Optimizer app, go to Filter, then Filter Rules, and finally Blacklist. From there you can add specific prefix filters.

On iPhone it's not possible to natively block entire prefixes, but you can activate a very useful feature: Mute strangersFrom Settings > Phone you can activate this option so that all calls from numbers not in your contacts are automatically forwarded. don't ringThey will go to voicemail or be recorded as missed calls, but they won't interrupt you or prompt you to return them impulsively.

Apps to filter spam calls and better protect yourself

Apps to block 212 calls

In addition to manual locking, we can rely on specialized applications for identifying and filtering spam callsThese apps use huge collaborative databases where millions of users mark certain numbers as dangerous, allowing them to be filtered automatically.

Among the most useful tools to combat calls from the 212 prefix and others like it are:

  • TrueCaller (Android)It automatically identifies who is calling you, even if you don't have them in your contacts, and Blocks spam calls known, including many numbers with the prefix 212 and other suspicious international codes.
  • Mr. Number (iOS)Very popular on iPhone, it allows you to create specific filters for Block international calls, hidden numbers or specific prefixes, and it feeds on a large community of users who report scams.
  • Hiya or Call BlockerAdditional options for Android that offer similar features such as caller ID, blacklists, and real-time spam detection.

These applications can be configured to automatically divert spam calls Send calls to voicemail, hang up before the phone rings, or clearly mark them as "suspected spam" or "potential fraud." This greatly reduces the risk of answering or returning a call by mistake.

More security measures and what to do if you have already been a victim

Once you are aware of the potential dangers associated with the number 212 (and others like it) you must take extreme precautions and follow the recommendations To avoid falling victim to scams, the key is:

  • Do not answer or return calls of unknown international numbers.
  • Never provide personal or banking information by phone, SMS or WhatsApp to strangers.
  • Avoid pressing on links received via SMS or messaging from numbers you don't know.
  • Activate additional security measures in your accounts (two-step verification, biometrics, security codes).

If you have unfortunately fallen victim to fraud, returned the call, or interacted with the scammer and see it reflected on your bill, Report it to the State Security Forces. providing all possible evidence: detailed invoices, bank charges, call history, screenshots of messages, etc.

It is also advisable that contact your telephone operator to report the case, request more details of the charges, ask about possible special rate blocks and even complain if you believe that the appropriate protection measures have not been applied.

As an additional preventative measure, it is worthwhile to register for the Robinson List, a service managed by the Spanish Association of Digital Economy with the aim of reduce unwanted advertising callsWhile it doesn't stop all scams (cybercriminals don't respect these lists), it does help decrease the volume of commercial spam, reducing the overall noise of unwanted calls.

To register, simply access the official Robinson List website, enter your details (name, phone number, etc.) and complete the registration. Please note that It may take several weeks for you to stop receiving advertising.But in the medium term, the difference is usually noticeable.

Lastly, remember that share this information Talking to family, friends, or people less familiar with technology is key to preventing them from falling for scams. A simple explanation of the implications of returning a missed call from 212 or other suspicious area codes can save someone from losing a lot of money due to a simple oversight.

Calls from the 212 prefix, associated SMS and WhatsApp messages, and other dangerous international codes aren't going away, but by understanding how they work, learning to identify them immediately, and using the appropriate blocking tools, it's possible to live with them without them becoming a real problem for your wallet or your digital security.