Decoding the Call: A Comprehensive Guide to the “97 Country Code” and International Calling Safety

The Mystery of the Missed Call: Understanding the “97 Country Code”

 

A common query arises for many who receive an unexpected call from an unfamiliar international number: “Which country has the 97 country code?” This question, born from a mix of curiosity and caution, leads to a surprising answer. In the intricate global telecommunications network, no country has been assigned the simple two-digit code +97. The query itself, however, reveals a widespread misunderstanding of how international dialing codes are structured—a knowledge gap that can be exploited by malicious actors.

The global system of country calling codes is managed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations. The ITU assigns these codes, which act as prefixes to route calls from one country to another. While some prominent codes are short, such as +1 for the United States and Canada or +44 for the United Kingdom, the ITU often allocates codes in larger blocks or zones. The number

9 designates a zone that primarily covers countries in the Middle East and Central and South Asia.

Therefore, +97 is not a standalone country code but the prefix for a series of three-digit codes known as the “+97x block.” Each code within this block, from +970 to +977, is assigned to a specific country or territory. The fact that many consumers are unfamiliar with this system is a foundational vulnerability. Scammers who operate using obscure international premium-rate numbers rely on this lack of familiarity. An incoming call from a number beginning with +971 or +976 might not immediately register as a foreign call to an unsuspecting individual, increasing the likelihood they will answer or, more dangerously, call back. Understanding the structure of these codes is the first step in consumer protection.

 

The +97x Block: A Tour of the Assigned Countries and Services

 

The +97x series of country codes is a diverse block assigned by the ITU to a range of nations and services, primarily in Asia and the Middle East. A detailed examination of this block provides clarity on the specific destinations associated with these numbers and reveals the dynamic nature of the global numbering plan.

The majority of the codes in this block are actively assigned to sovereign nations. A comprehensive list clarifies exactly where a call from a +97x number originates :

• +970 is assigned to Palestine.
• +971 is the code for the United Arab Emirates.
• +972 is assigned to Israel and is also used for calls to and from Palestine.
• +973 is the code for Bahrain.
• +974 is assigned to Qatar.
• +975 is the code for the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.
• +976 is assigned to Mongolia.
• +977 is the code for Nepal.

Beyond these active assignments, the history of the +97x block reveals interesting geopolitical and technological shifts. The codes +978 and +979 were once assigned to individual emirates within the UAE—Dubai and Abu Dhabi, respectively. These have since been deprecated and consolidated under the single, unified country code +971. This change is not merely a technical footnote; it is a direct reflection of a deliberate national policy. The UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) undertook a review of its National Numbering Plan (NNP) to create a unified system that simplifies international communication and reinforces the country’s cohesive identity on the global stage. This telecommunications consolidation mirrors the broader political and economic integration of the emirates, turning a technical numbering plan into a footprint of nation-building.

Furthermore, the code +979 has a unique designation as “International Premium Rate Service” (IPRS), also known as Universal International Premium Rate Service (UIPRS). This is a crucial detail, as it directly links the international numbering system to the financial infrastructure that enables certain types of phone scams. Premium-rate numbers are designed to charge callers at a higher-than-normal rate, with the revenue shared between the network operator and the service provider. This financial incentive is the core engine behind scams that trick victims into calling these expensive international numbers.

The following table provides a clear reference for the entire +97x block.

 

Anatomy of an International Number: A Case Study of the UAE (+971)

 

A country code is only the first piece of the puzzle. The sequence of numbers that follows is governed by a country’s own National Numbering Plan (NNP), a detailed framework that dictates how numbers are structured and assigned internally. Deconstructing a real-world example, such as a number from the United Arab Emirates (+971), moves beyond a simple list of codes to reveal the intricate logic behind a complete international phone number.

The UAE’s NNP, managed by its Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), provides a clear blueprint for how its numbers are organized. A typical number from the UAE consists of several parts:

• Country Code: The number begins with +971, signaling to the global network that the call is destined for the UAE.
• National Destination Code (NDC): This component functions similarly to an area code in the United States. It identifies either a geographic region or a specific type of service. For example, the NDC 2 is for the Abu Dhabi region, 4 is for the Dubai region, and 6 covers the Sharjah and Ajman region.
• Mobile Prefixes: The NNP distinguishes between landlines and mobile services by assigning unique NDCs to telecommunications providers. For instance, numbers beginning with the NDC 50 are allocated to the mobile carrier Etisalat, while 55 is allocated to its competitor, du. This structure is a direct result of the TRA’s policy to liberalize and regulate the telecommunications market, ending a state monopoly and fostering competition.
• Subscriber Number: This is the final set of digits that uniquely identifies an individual phone line.
• Standardized Length: The TRA specifies the length of numbers to ensure consistency. Mobile numbers in the UAE have a nine-digit National (Significant) Number (the NDC plus the subscriber number), while most geographic landline numbers are eight digits long.

A critical detail for anyone dialing into the UAE from another country is the treatment of the “trunk prefix.” For calls made within the UAE, a leading “0” is dialed before the NDC (e.g., 04 for Dubai or 050 for an Etisalat mobile). However, this “0” must be omitted when calling from abroad. The official ITU documentation explicitly states, “callers from overseas will not dial the escape digit ‘0’, as per standard international dialling practice”. This is a common point of confusion for international callers worldwide.

The detailed structure of the UAE’s NNP is not arbitrary. It is a direct reflection of the nation’s technological development, economic policies, and even its population distribution. The allocation of specific codes to different geographic centers like Abu Dhabi and Dubai mirrors where infrastructure and population are concentrated. The distinct codes for competing mobile carriers are a clear indicator of a liberalized market. Furthermore, the reservation of codes for future services, such as 800 for toll-free lines and 900 for future expansion, demonstrates strategic, forward-looking planning for commercial and technological growth. In this way, a country’s numbering plan serves as an administrative blueprint that reveals a surprising amount about its internal geography, economic strategy, and technological ambitions.

 

Connecting from the U.S.: A Practical Guide to International Dialing

 

Placing an international call from the United States is a straightforward process, but it requires following a specific sequence of numbers. Understanding this procedure, for both traditional landlines and modern mobile phones, is essential for successfully connecting with contacts abroad. Official guidance from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) provides a clear, step-by-step method.

 

The Standard Procedure for Landlines

 

When dialing from a landline in the U.S., every international call must begin with the U.S. exit code, which signals to the network that the subsequent number is outside the North American Numbering Plan. The process is as follows :

1. Dial the U.S. Exit Code: Start by dialing 011. This is the International Direct Dialing (IDD) number for calls originating from the United States and Canada.
2. Dial the Country Code: Immediately after the exit code, enter the country code of the destination. For example, to call the United Arab Emirates, you would dial 971.
3. Dial the City/Area Code (NDC): Next, dial the specific city or mobile code for the number you are trying to reach. Crucially, if the local number you have starts with a 0, this leading zero (or “trunk prefix”) must be dropped.
4. Dial the Local Subscriber Number: Finally, dial the remaining digits of the local phone number.

A complete example for calling a landline in Dubai (area code 4) from a U.S. landline would look like this: 011 - 971 - 4 - XXX-XXXX.

 

The Modern Method for Mobile Phones

 

Calling from a mobile phone simplifies the process significantly by using a universal symbol that replaces the country-specific exit code.

1. Enter the Plus Symbol (+): On a smartphone’s dial pad, press and hold the 0 key until the + symbol appears. This symbol is a universal replacement for the exit code. The mobile network automatically interprets the + and applies the correct exit code based on your location, making it seamless to call from anywhere in the world.
2. Enter the Country Code and Number: After the +, simply dial the country code, the area code (without the leading zero), and the local subscriber number.

The same call to Dubai from a U.S. mobile phone would be dialed as: +971 4 XXX-XXXX.

This evolution from the rigid, country-specific 011 exit code to the universal + symbol represents a fundamental shift in telecommunications. The older system was state-centric, requiring the user to know the specific dialing rules for the country they were in. The + symbol, introduced with GSM mobile technology, is user-centric. It abstracts away the complexity of national regulations, making the network itself responsible for navigating the legacy infrastructure. This small change prioritizes user experience and reflects the broader trend of mobile technology breaking down national barriers to create a more intuitive and globally interconnected system.

For those who make international calls frequently, alternatives to standard dialing can be more cost-effective. These include signing up for international calling plans with a service provider, using prepaid calling cards, or utilizing Voice over IP (VoIP) services like Google Voice or Skype, which often offer significantly lower rates by routing calls over the internet.

 

The Red Flag: When an International Call Signals Danger

 

While international connectivity is a modern convenience, it also opens a door for fraudulent activity. An unexpected call or voicemail from an international number, particularly from a country code you do not recognize, should be treated as a potential red flag. One of the most pervasive and deceptive schemes targeting phone users worldwide is the “Wangiri” scam, a simple yet highly effective method for extracting money from unsuspecting victims.

The term “Wangiri” is Japanese and translates to “one ring and cut,” which perfectly describes the scam’s mechanism. The process is executed with automated efficiency and preys on basic human psychology :

• The Mechanism: Scammers use auto-dialing systems to place thousands or even millions of calls to random phone numbers. The phone rings only once—just long enough to register as a missed call on the recipient’s device—before the scammer’s system hangs up.
• The Psychology: The scam is a form of social engineering that exploits curiosity and concern. Seeing a missed call from an unknown number, a victim may feel compelled to call back, assuming it was an important or urgent matter that was cut off.
• The Trap: This is the critical step. The number displayed on the victim’s phone is not a standard line but an International Premium Rate Service (IPRS) number. These numbers operate like the 1-900 numbers that were once common in the U.S., charging callers at an exorbitant per-minute rate from the moment the call connects.
• The Goal: The scammer’s objective is to keep the victim on the line for as long as possible to maximize the charges. To achieve this, they often play long recorded messages, hold music, or use other delay tactics to give the impression that the call is about to be answered. The revenue generated from these high-priced calls is then shared between the premium-rate number provider and the scammer.

The Wangiri scam is a form of telecommunications arbitrage. The criminals perpetrating it exploit the vast financial and regulatory differences between various types of international phone connections. Their cost to place the initial one-ring call using VoIP and auto-dialers is virtually zero. However, the revenue generated when a victim calls back to their premium-rate number is substantial. The scam, therefore, isn’t about hacking a phone or stealing data in a traditional sense; it is about hacking the complex international billing and settlement system that underpins the global telephone network. The “product” being sold is the victim’s own time, monetized through their curiosity.

 

The Scammer’s Playbook: Recognizing and Resisting Fraudulent Calls

 

While the Wangiri scam is a widespread threat, it is just one tool in a much larger arsenal used by telephone fraudsters. To effectively protect oneself, it is crucial to understand the broader playbook of tactics scammers employ to deceive and manipulate their targets. These methods often combine technical tricks with sophisticated social engineering to bypass a victim’s natural skepticism.

 

The “Area Code” Deception

 

A particularly insidious tactic targeting American consumers involves using international country codes that closely resemble domestic North American area codes. The FCC has issued specific warnings about this scheme, where scammers place calls from numbers with three-digit prefixes like 809 (Dominican Republic), 876 (Jamaica), 284 (British Virgin Islands), or 649 (Turks and Caicos). Because these look familiar, a victim may return a missed call believing they are making a domestic long-distance call, only to be connected to an expensive international premium-rate line.

 

Caller ID Spoofing

 

Trusting the name and number that appears on a phone’s Caller ID is a critical mistake. Scammers routinely use a technology called “spoofing” to manipulate the information that is displayed. They can make a call appear to come from any number they choose, including a local number (a technique known as “neighbor spoofing”), a trusted financial institution, or even a government agency like the Social Security Administration or the IRS. This technique is designed to lower the victim’s guard and lend an air of legitimacy to the fraudulent call.

 

Imposter Scams and Common Tactics

 

Once a scammer has a victim on the line, they often employ imposter scams. They will pretend to be someone the victim trusts—a government official, a law enforcement officer, a representative from a utility company, or a tech support agent from a major corporation. The goal is to create a false sense of authority, urgency, or fear to compel the victim to act without thinking. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), these scams consistently rely on a core set of red flags :

• Creating a Problem or a Prize: The call will present either a crisis or an opportunity. The scammer might claim you owe back taxes and face arrest, that a virus has been detected on your computer, or that you have won a lottery but must pay a fee to collect the prize.
• Pressure to Act Immediately: Scammers will insist that the issue must be resolved right away. They may threaten you, tell you not to hang up, or forbid you from speaking to anyone else. This is designed to prevent you from having time to verify their story.
• Insistence on Specific Payment Methods: A clear sign of a scam is the demand for payment through a specific, untraceable method. Fraudsters often insist on payment via wire transfer (through companies like Western Union or MoneyGram), gift cards (by asking for the numbers on the back), cryptocurrency, or a payment app. Legitimate organizations will never demand payment in this manner.
• Requests for Personal Information: Scammers may try to trick you into revealing sensitive data, such as your Social Security number, bank account details, or passwords, under the guise of “verifying your identity.”

These modern phone scams represent a dangerous convergence of low-cost technology like VoIP, the widespread availability of personal data from breaches, and time-tested psychological manipulation. The phone is merely the delivery mechanism for a carefully scripted psychological attack.

 

Your Defense Plan: Official Guidance on Staying Safe

 

Navigating the landscape of modern telecommunications requires a defensive mindset. Fortunately, protecting yourself from the vast majority of phone scams relies on a few simple but powerful principles. By following the official guidance provided by federal agencies like the FCC and FTC, consumers can build a robust defense against fraudulent calls.

 

The Golden Rule: Do Not Engage

 

The single most effective defense, particularly against Wangiri and other missed call scams, is to refuse to engage. If you receive a missed call from an unknown number, especially one with an unfamiliar international code, resist the urge to call back. A legitimate caller with an important message will either try again or leave a voicemail. By not returning the call, you deny the scammer the opportunity to profit. This principle extends to answering calls as well: if you do not recognize the number, let it go to voicemail.

 

Proactive Defense Measures

 

Beyond simply not engaging, consumers can take several proactive steps to secure their phones and their information. These best practices are recommended by U.S. regulatory bodies :

• Block Suspicious Numbers: Use your phone’s built-in features or a third-party call-blocking application to block numbers that have sent you scam calls or texts.
• Be Skeptical of Caller ID: Always remember that the information displayed on your Caller ID can be faked. Do not trust a call just because it appears to be from a local number or a familiar organization.
• Never Give Out Personal Information: Never provide personal or financial information, such as your Social Security number, bank account details, credit card numbers, or passwords, in response to an unsolicited call.
• Hang Up on Pressure Tactics: If a caller uses threats, intimidation, or high-pressure tactics to get you to act immediately, hang up. This is a hallmark of a scam. Legitimate businesses and government agencies do not operate this way.
• Verify Independently: If you receive a call purporting to be from your bank, a utility company, or a government agency, do not use any information or phone numbers provided by the caller. Hang up, and then contact the organization directly using a phone number from their official website, your account statement, or another trusted source.

 

How to Report Scams

 

Reporting fraudulent calls is a critical step in combating these schemes. While it may not resolve your immediate issue, it provides law enforcement and regulatory agencies with the data needed to track trends, warn the public, and take action against criminals.

• Report to Your Phone Carrier: Many carriers have systems in place to track and block fraudulent numbers. Informing them of scam calls can help protect other customers.
• File a Complaint with the FCC: The Federal Communications Commission accepts complaints about unwanted calls and phone scams, which helps inform its enforcement actions.
• Report Fraud to the FTC: The Federal Trade Commission is the primary consumer protection agency and collects reports of fraud at its dedicated website, ReportFraud.ftc.gov. These reports are entered into a database accessible to law enforcement agencies across the country.

Finally, while it will not stop calls from illegal scammers who ignore the law, it is still recommended to register your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. This will reduce the volume of calls you receive from legitimate telemarketers, making it easier to identify the unsolicited calls that are more likely to be fraudulent.