International Robocall Surge: Why Millions Are Suddenly Getting Missed Calls from 97 Codes
By Elena Rostova
International dialing codes governed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) designate Zone 9 as West, South, and Central Asia along with parts of the Middle East. Under this architecture, there is actually no standalone two-digit "+97" international country calling code. Instead, every legitimate number in this bloc includes a third defining digit: the United Arab Emirates (+971), Israel (+972), Bahrain (+973), Qatar (+974), Kuwait (+975), Saudi Arabia (+966, though adjacent), or Nepal (+977).
Fraud rings strip or compress these digits in mobile caller ID displays to generate curiosity. When an American or British consumer sees "+97" followed by an eight-digit sequence, the unfamiliar layout prompts an instinctual response: Did a bank reach out? Did an overseas relative face an emergency?
The technical execution relies on high-speed VoIP auto-dialers hosted on unregulated bulletproof servers. Fraud syndicates rent automated switchboards capable of generating up to 800,000 automated connection attempts per hour. The auto-dialer drops the line after exactly 1.2 to 1.8 seconds. This window is brief enough to prevent an accidental pickup, which costs the fraudster wholesale termination fees, yet long enough to register an unanswered call on the victim's lock screen.
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.
