The Definitive Guide to the +99 Country Code: Central Asian Nations, Phone Scams, and How to Protect Yourself

The Mystery of the “+99” Country Code Solved

 

For individuals in the United States who receive an unexpected call from an international number, the first question is often, “What country is this?” When the number begins with +99, the answer is not as straightforward as it is for other codes. The direct international calling code +99 is not assigned to any country; it is an unassigned prefix reserved by the international body that governs telecommunications standards. To understand why this is the case, it is necessary to look at the global system that organizes telephone numbers.  

This system is managed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for information and communication technologies. The ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) establishes the framework for international dialing, known as Recommendation E.164. This standard divides the world into nine primary “calling zones,” each designated by a single digit from 1 to 9.  

The +9 prefix signifies Zone 9, a vast geographical area that encompasses West, Central, and South Asia, along with parts of the Middle East and Southern Europe. Within this zone, the code  

+99 serves as a prefix for a series of three-digit country codes, specifically those ranging from +992 to +998. The ITU has officially designated several codes within this block as unassigned, including +990, +991, +997, and +999, which are marked as reserved in official lists.  

The structure of this global numbering plan is hierarchical and reflects a history of technological and political development. The assignment of shorter, more easily dialed codes (such as +1 for North America or +44 for the United Kingdom) often corresponds to regions that had more developed telecommunications networks earlier in the 20th century, a time when rotary dialing made shorter numbers more efficient. The  

+99x block, consisting of three-digit codes, was allocated to a group of nations that emerged on the world stage simultaneously following a major geopolitical event: the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The creation of these new sovereign states in Central Asia and the Caucasus necessitated the assignment of a new, contiguous block of country codes. The ITU allocated the available  

+99x series within the geographically appropriate Zone 9, creating a distinct digital footprint of this pivotal moment in modern history.

To provide a clearer global context, the nine world numbering zones established by the ITU are organized as follows:

This table is compiled from data provided by the International Telecommunication Union.  

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Journey to Central Asia & The Caucasus: The Six Nations of the +99x Block

 

While +99 itself is unassigned, the prefix is the gateway to six independent nations located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. These countries, all former constituent republics of the Soviet Union, possess rich cultural histories and diverse landscapes. For an American audience, understanding these nations provides crucial context, whether for business, travel, or simply identifying an unknown caller.

The following table offers a quick reference for the countries that use the +99x country calling codes.

This table is compiled from data provided by the International Telecommunication Union and other official sources.  

 

+992: Tajikistan

 

The Republic of Tajikistan is a landlocked nation and the smallest by area in Central Asia. Its landscape is dominated by the towering mountains of the Pamir range, with over 90% of its territory being mountainous and about half lying more than 10,000 feet above sea level. The country, with a population of over 10.7 million, shares a long and strategically important border with Afghanistan to the south.  

For the United States, Tajikistan’s geographical position makes it a key country in regional security discussions. The nation’s economy is heavily reliant on remittances from citizens working abroad, which account for a third of its GDP, and its primary exports are cotton and aluminum. While its economic relationship with the U.S. is not extensive, tourism is a growing sector. According to data from the Agency on Statistics under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, 9,200 tourists from the USA visited the country in the first nine months of 2024, indicating a rising interest among American travelers in its unique cultural and natural attractions.  

 

+993: Turkmenistan

 

Turkmenistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia bordered by the Caspian Sea to the west. Over 80% of its territory is covered by the vast Karakum Desert. It operates as a highly centralized, authoritarian presidential republic, and its human rights record has drawn significant criticism from international observers.  

Turkmenistan holds the world’s fourth-largest proven reserves of natural gas, but its economy is heavily dependent on exports to a single partner: China. For American businesses and investors, the U.S. Department of State classifies Turkmenistan as a “high risk for U.S. foreign direct investment.” This is due to endemic corruption, strict government control over the economy, and severe foreign currency restrictions that create major impediments to business operations. Consequently, U.S.-Turkmenistan relations are limited, with total goods trade estimated at a modest $96.8 million in 2024. The primary focus of U.S. engagement with Turkmenistan revolves around regional security and border control.  

 

+994: Azerbaijan

 

The Republic of Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country located in the South Caucasus region, at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and West Asia. It has a significant coastline along the Caspian Sea and is rich in oil and natural gas resources, which form the backbone of its economy. Its capital, Baku, is a modern hub known for its striking architecture and is also the lowest-lying capital city in the world, situated approximately 28 meters below sea level.  

From a U.S. perspective, Azerbaijan is a significant commercial partner in the region. The United States-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC) was established in 1995 to foster trade and attract American investment. Its membership includes numerous Fortune 500 companies, highlighting the established business ties between the two nations. The USACC has been a key advocate for major energy infrastructure projects, including the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which has strategic importance for global energy markets.  

 

+995: Georgia

 

Georgia is situated on the coast of the Black Sea, at the intersection of Eastern Europe and West Asia. Since regaining its independence, Georgia has pursued a strong pro-Western foreign policy, with stated aspirations of joining the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This orientation has made it a key strategic partner for the United States in the Caucasus region.  

The country has undergone significant economic transformation, with the World Bank recognizing it in 2006 as the world’s fastest-reforming economy. For Americans, connections to Georgia are also cultural. A notable Georgian diaspora has established communities in major U.S. metropolitan areas, including New York, Chicago, and Washington D.C., fostering cultural and personal ties between the two countries. In 2018, Georgia became the first former socialist state to legalize cannabis, another marker of its progressive and Western-oriented reforms.  

 

+996: Kyrgyzstan

 

 

Officially known as the Kyrgyz Republic, this landlocked and highly mountainous nation is often referred to as “the Switzerland of Central Asia” due to its stunning natural landscapes. The Tian Shan mountain range covers over 80% of its territory. However, the country’s modern history has been marked by political instability, including the overthrow of two presidents since its independence.  

The Kyrgyz economy is one of the most vulnerable in Central Asia. It relies heavily on a few key sectors, including gold mining and agriculture, and is particularly dependent on remittances from Kyrgyz citizens working abroad, primarily in Russia and Kazakhstan. These remittances account for approximately 30% of the nation’s GDP. The U.S. maintains a modest trade relationship with Kyrgyzstan, with total goods trade estimated at $149.8 million in 2024. The trade balance is heavily in favor of the United States, with top American exports including passenger vehicles and motor vehicle parts.  

 

+998: Uzbekistan

 

The Republic of Uzbekistan is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world, meaning it is a landlocked country surrounded entirely by other landlocked countries. Since 2017, Uzbekistan has embarked on a path of significant economic and social reforms, opening its economy and improving prospects for private sector development. However, it continues to face substantial challenges, including a human rights record that has drawn scrutiny from international organizations.  

The United States has a significant strategic interest in Uzbekistan’s stability and sovereignty. Since 1992, the U.S. government has provided over $1.6 billion in assistance to support the country’s development, particularly in areas like rule of law and economic reform. One of the most well-known facts about Uzbekistan for a global audience is its connection to one of the world’s worst environmental disasters: the catastrophic shrinking of the Aral Sea, a direct consequence of Soviet-era agricultural policies that diverted its feeder rivers for cotton irrigation.  

The divergent paths these six nations have taken since their shared origin in the collapse of the Soviet Union are remarkable. They range from Georgia’s determined pivot toward the West to Turkmenistan’s deep isolationism, and from Azerbaijan’s leveraging of energy wealth to the economic vulnerabilities of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. For an American receiving a call, this context is crucial. A call from +995 (Georgia) could plausibly relate to tourism or business, given its open economy and U.S. ties. In contrast, an unsolicited call from +993 (Turkmenistan) is far more likely to be suspicious, given the country’s closed nature and limited interaction with the outside world. This geopolitical nuance adds a practical layer of risk assessment to the simple act of identifying an unknown number.

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The Real Reason You’re Here: Unmasking the “One-Ring” International Phone Scam

 

While the history and geography of the +99x countries are important, the most common reason an American searches for an unknown international country code is due to receiving a suspicious call. These calls are often part of a widespread and deceptive scheme known as the “one-ring” or “Wangiri” scam. This scam, whose name originates from a Japanese term meaning “one-ring-and-cut,” is designed to exploit a recipient’s curiosity to generate illegal profits for the perpetrators.  

 

How the “One-Ring” Scam Works

 

The scam operates on a simple but effective psychological premise and is executed through a low-cost, high-volume automated system. The process unfolds in a predictable cycle:

1. The Call: Scammers use automated dialing systems, or “robocallers,” to place millions of calls to random phone numbers across the United States. These calls originate from international premium-rate numbers, which are phone lines that charge callers high fees, similar to the 1-900 numbers that were once common in the U.S..  
2. The “One Ring”: The automated system is programmed to let the phone ring just once before hanging up. This is intentional. The goal is not for the recipient to answer, but to leave a “missed call” notification on their phone.  
3. The Bait: The missed call from an unfamiliar international number piques the recipient’s curiosity. Worried it might be an emergency, a misdial from someone they know, or an important business call, the victim decides to call the number back.  
4. The Trap: This is the critical, profit-generating step for the scammer. When the victim returns the call, they are connected to the international premium-rate line. Their mobile carrier immediately begins billing them a substantial connection fee, followed by exorbitant per-minute charges for as long as the call lasts. The revenue generated from these fees is then shared between the premium-rate number operator and the scammer.  

To maximize these per-minute charges, scammers employ various tactics to keep the victim on the line. These can include playing hold music, a pre-recorded message claiming a bad connection (“Hello? I can’t hear you, can you call back?”), or an enticing message about winning a prize or receiving a gift.  

 

The Financial Danger and Deceptive Tactics

 

The financial repercussions of falling for a one-ring scam can be significant. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) warns that these fraudulent charges often appear on a victim’s phone bill under vague categories such as “premium services,” “international calling,” or “toll-calling,” making them difficult to identify immediately.  

Scammers are sophisticated in their methods of deception. They frequently use international country codes that begin with three digits that resemble North American area codes. For example, calls may come from area code 809, which is the country code for the Dominican Republic, or 232, the code for Sierra Leone. An unsuspecting person might mistake these for domestic calls and dial back without hesitation. The key indicator that a number is international is the plus sign (  

+) that precedes the country code on a mobile phone’s caller ID.  

The +99x country codes from Central Asia and the Caucasus are particularly effective for these scams precisely because they are unfamiliar to most Americans. This unfamiliarity increases the likelihood of a curious callback. While the scam can originate from any premium-rate number worldwide, reports from users often mention calls from Zone 9 countries, such as neighboring Iran (+98), indicating a regional concentration of this fraudulent activity. The entire operation is a form of criminal arbitrage, exploiting the complex billing arrangements of the global telecommunications network and relying on a predictable human response to generate revenue with minimal cost and risk.  

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A Consumer’s Guide to Phone Security: Your Action Plan

 

Protecting yourself from one-ring scams and other forms of international phone fraud requires a multi-layered approach that combines behavioral changes, technological tools, and knowledge of how to report incidents to the proper authorities. By taking proactive steps, consumers can significantly reduce their vulnerability to these schemes.

 

The Golden Rule: Do Not Engage

 

The single most effective defense against the one-ring scam is also the simplest. The advice from federal regulators and consumer protection experts is unanimous:

• Do not answer calls from numbers you do not recognize, especially if they have an international country code.  
• Never call back a missed call from an unknown international number.  

Legitimate callers who need to reach you will almost always leave a voicemail or send a text message to identify themselves and state the purpose of their call. Resisting the urge to call back out of curiosity is the first and most crucial line of defense.  

 

How to Block International and Unwanted Calls on Your Smartphone

 

Modern smartphones offer powerful tools to manage and block unwanted calls. Additionally, mobile carriers and third-party applications provide further layers of protection.

 

For iPhone Users

 

Apple’s iOS provides several built-in features to combat spam and unwanted calls, and additional protection is available through your carrier and the App Store.

1. Block Individual Numbers: If you receive a suspicious call, you can block the number directly from your call history. Navigate to the Phone app, tap ‘Recents,’ find the number, tap the ‘i’ (info) icon next to it, scroll down, and select ‘Block this Caller’.  
2. Silence Unknown Callers: This powerful feature, found in Settings > Phone, automatically sends calls from numbers not in your contacts, recent outgoing calls, or Siri Suggestions straight to voicemail. The phone will not ring, preventing the call from disturbing you.  
3. Use Third-Party Apps: Applications like Truecaller, RoboKiller, or Hiya can be downloaded from the App Store. These apps maintain vast databases of known scam numbers and can automatically block or label suspicious calls before they reach you. After installing an app, you must enable it in Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification.  
4. Contact Your Carrier to Block Outgoing International Calls: To prevent accidental and costly callbacks, you can ask your mobile carrier to place a block on all outgoing international calls from your line. This is a highly effective preventative measure if you do not regularly make international calls. You will need to contact your carrier’s customer service directly to enable this feature. For example, AT&T users can often enable this through their online account settings, while T-Mobile and Verizon customers typically need to call customer service.  

 

For Android Users

 

The Android operating system, with its variations across different manufacturers, offers a similar set of tools for call management.

1. Block Numbers Manually: Most Android phones allow you to block numbers directly from the call log in the Phone app. The exact steps may vary, but typically you can long-press a number in your call history and select the “Block” or “Report spam” option.
2. Use Built-in Spam Protection: The native Google Phone app, available on Pixel devices and many other Android phones, includes robust spam protection. It can identify and label suspected spam calls and, in some cases, automatically block them before your phone rings.
3. Leverage Manufacturer-Specific Features: Some manufacturers, like Samsung, include additional call management features. For instance, on some Samsung Galaxy devices, a “Call barring” feature can be found under Phone app > Settings > Supplementary services, which may allow you to block all outgoing international calls.  
4. Install Third-Party Blocking Apps: The Google Play Store offers a wide range of call-blocking applications that function similarly to their iOS counterparts, using community-based databases to identify and filter scam calls.  
5. Contact Your Carrier: As with iPhones, the most definitive way to prevent accidental international charges is to contact your mobile carrier and request a block on all outgoing international calls from your account.  

 

How to Report Scams in the United States

 

Reporting scam calls is a critical step. While it may not resolve your individual case, the data you provide helps federal agencies track scam operations, identify patterns, and take enforcement action against the perpetrators. Your report contributes to a larger effort to protect all consumers.

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): The FTC is the primary agency for collecting reports on scams and fraud.
  • If you have lost money to a phone scam or have any information about the scammer, file a detailed report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The information you provide is entered into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure database accessible to over 2,800 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies worldwide.  
  • If you did not lose money but want to report an unwanted call (including robocalls), you can use the streamlined reporting form at DoNotCall.gov. It is important to note that while the National Do Not Call Registry is effective at stopping sales calls from legitimate companies, it will not stop calls from criminals.  
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC): The FCC regulates interstate and international communications.
  • If you have been billed for a call you made as a result of a one-ring scam and your phone company is unwilling to resolve the dispute, you can file a complaint with the FCC at no cost through their Consumer Complaint Center at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov.  

The fight against these scams is a collective effort. Individuals provide the first line of defense through their own vigilance. Technology companies and mobile carriers offer tools to block and filter unwanted communications. Finally, government regulators like the FTC and FCC use consumer reports to investigate and disrupt these fraudulent networks. By understanding and utilizing all layers of this security framework, consumers can effectively protect themselves and contribute to a safer telecommunications environment for everyone.

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Beyond the Calling Code: Demystifying Related Acronyms

 

The world of international telecommunications is filled with technical standards and acronyms that can be confusing to the average person. A clear understanding of these terms is essential for navigating the complexities of global communication and for distinguishing between different types of country identification systems. Clarifying these terms helps build a more complete picture and prevents misunderstandings that can arise from overlapping terminology.

 

Telephone Calling Codes (ITU E.164)

 

This is the system that has been the primary focus of this report. Standardized by the ITU’s E.164 recommendation, these are the numeric codes used for international telephone dialing. They always begin with a plus sign (+) followed by a one-, two-, or three-digit code that uniquely identifies a country or geographical area for the purpose of routing calls across the global public switched telephone network (PSTN). For example,  

+1 is for the United States, +44 is for the United Kingdom, and +992 is for Tajikistan.

 

ITU Letter Codes

 

Separate from the numeric dialing codes, the ITU also assigns one- or three-letter codes to identify its member states, primarily for administrative and radiocommunication purposes. These codes are not used for dialing phone numbers. For instance, while Georgia’s calling code is  

+995, its ITU letter code is GEO. Similarly, Tajikistan is +992 for dialing but TJK in this letter-based system. Eight countries, including major early members like France (  

F) and Italy (I), have single-letter codes.  

 

Mobile Country Codes (MCC)

 

Mobile Country Codes are a different type of numeric identifier, established under the ITU’s E.212 standard. An MCC is a three-digit code used within mobile networks to identify the country of origin of a mobile subscriber. It is the first part of a unique identifier known as an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). For example, the block of MCCs assigned to the United States is 310 through 316. These codes are used by network operators for routing and billing on mobile networks and are not used by consumers for dialing.  

 

The “CPC” Confusion: A Common Misconception

 

Searches related to country codes sometimes include the term “CPC country code,” which is an ambiguous acronym that does not correspond to any standard international telephone numbering system. This confusion likely arises from the prevalence of the “CPC” acronym in other technical and legal fields. Based on official documentation, “CPC” can refer to several distinct systems:

• Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC): This is a detailed, international system for classifying the technical subject matter of patents. It is jointly managed by the European Patent Office (EPO) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and is used by patent offices around the world to organize and search for patent documents.  
• Country of Particular Concern (CPC): This is a formal designation made by the United States Secretary of State for a nation that has engaged in or tolerated “systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom” under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. Countries designated as CPCs may be subject to U.S. sanctions.  
• Civil Procedure Code (CPC): This is a legal term referring to the body of law that governs the process of civil litigation in a given jurisdiction. For example, Switzerland has a national Civil Procedure Code, abbreviated as CPC.  

By proactively identifying and clarifying these distinct systems, it becomes clear that the term “CPC country code” is a misnomer in the context of telephone dialing. This level of detail is essential for providing a truly comprehensive and authoritative resource, anticipating user confusion and providing definitive answers that build trust and establish the content as a reliable source of information. This thoroughness is a hallmark of high-quality, expert-driven content that serves the audience’s needs completely.