Miss Call

A missed call is a phone call that is deliberately allowed to ring briefly and then terminated by the caller before the recipient answers. The intention is usually to signal the recipient to call back, avoiding the cost of making the initial call. Missed calls are often used in contexts where calling rates are high, or where one party wishes to indicate their availability or an urgent need for communication without incurring charges. This practice is prevalent in developing countries and regions with varying calling rates between networks.

Missed calls can also be used for marketing purposes, where a company encourages customers to give a missed call to a specific number. This action might then trigger an automated response, such as a text message containing promotional information or enrollment in a service. In some instances, missed calls can be part of two-factor authentication processes, where a user receives a missed call from a specific number as a means of verifying their identity.

However, the practice of using missed calls has also been linked to malicious activities. Scammers may use missed calls from unknown international numbers to lure recipients into calling back, incurring high international calling charges. Additionally, automated systems can generate large numbers of missed calls for nuisance or harassment purposes. Therefore, caution is advised when receiving missed calls from unknown or suspicious numbers.