A blank call seems harmless at first your phone rings, you answer, but hear nothing. No voice, no background noise, just silence before the line goes dead. You shut it off, maybe a wrong number. But when it happens again, and again, it feels less like an accident and more like someone’s watching.
You’re are not the only one affected by these strange calls, these calls rings sometimes just once, other times over and over again. At first, you may rid this off as you were not serious by thinking it was just a network glitch or someone who dialed the wrong number. But when it keeps happening, you might started to think and started feel something fishy around these blank calls. you start to realize That its not happening by accident and more like a planned move.
What if these calls are not just random?
What if someone’s doing it on purpose?
These are not isolated incidents happening As per a 2024 cybercrime report from India’s Ministry of Home Affairs, more than 28% of digital fraud complaints involved suspicious calls or SIM-related identity theft many of which started with blank calls. In a connected world, something as simple as a phone call shouldn’t become a weapon of discomfort but unfortunately, it is.
What Are Blank Calls?
Blank calls are phone calls where the receiver hears no voice or message after picking up the call. The call rings only a few times often between 2 to 5 rings and ends either just before you answer or a few seconds after you’ve picked up. In some cases, if you answer, the line stays silent. No speech, no automated message, no background noise just an eerie, empty connection that eventually cuts off. These aren’t just rare occurrences anymore. In India, this phenomenon has become alarmingly common, especially over the past years.
Types of Blank Calls Observed in India
Based on several reports, social media posts, and community feedback. These calls are frustrating, creepy and in many cases dangerous. we can classify blank calls into three major types:
Rings and Disconnects Before You Answer
The phone rings 2–3 times, then stops. This often feels like a missed call. When you try calling back, sometimes it doesn’t even ring or the line just stays dead. Other times, the number doesn’t seem to exist at all.
Silent Calls After Answering
you pick up the call and say ” hello,” but no one responds, just silence. this continues for a few seconds before the line goes dead
Repeated Calls from Different Numbers
Some users have reported receiving multiple blank calls from same number as well as different numbers in a single day or over a few weeks. Even if these calls blocked, users starts to receive calls from different numbers.
Why Are You Receiving Blank Calls?
Let’s break down some possible reasons behind these mysterious calls:
1. Scouting for Active Numbers
Fraudsters and scam operations use blank calls as a testing tool to verify which numbers are active. If you pick up or call back, your number is marked as “live” and may be sold to telemarketers or worse scammers.
2. SIM Swap & Identity Theft Scams
A growing trend in India involves blank calls being used as preludes to SIM swap scams. In such cases, fraudsters use social engineering and technical tools to clone your SIM card and gain control over your phone number. Once they gain access, they can intercept OTPs and break into your bank or UPI accounts.
3. Call-Back Scams (Wangiri Scam)
Some blank calls are designed to make you curious enough to return the call. When you do, you’re unknowingly dialed into a premium-rate number (especially in international scams), leading to large deductions from your balance or charges on your bill.
4. Automated Bot Dialers
Telemarketers and scam rings use auto-dialing software to flood thousands of numbers randomly. These bots generate blank calls either due to programming errors or as part of a mass data-collection method.
5. Stalking or Harassment
In some rare but serious cases, blank calls are linked to harassment or stalking. A person might repeatedly call without speaking as a form of intimidation or tracking.
Real Reports: What People Are Saying
We reached out to a few users and collected responses from Reddit India, Twitter (now X), and Quora.
- “I’ve been getting 3–4 blank calls a week from different numbers. Some cut after 2 rings. One time I answered and it was complete silence. I blocked that number, but new ones keep coming.” — user from Bangalore
- “My father answered a blank call and two days later, his bank account got debited with two unauthorized UPI transactions. The fraud team later confirmed it was a SIM-swap scam.” — user from Pune
- “It’s creepy. I keep getting missed calls at 2 AM. No sound, just silence. When I block the number, a new one calls again after 2 days.” — User from Kochi
How Are These Calls Affecting People?
● Beyond the financial risk, blank calls are affecting mental well-being and personal safety
● Increased Anxiety as Repeated silent calls make people feel watched or targeted.
● Sleep Disturbance as Late-night rings from anonymous numbers can cause sleep disruptions.
● It can get to the point where you start doubting the people around you especially if you’ve already been through something like stalking.
How to Stay Safe from Blank Calls
Let’s be real these calls can be annoying, and sometimes even risky. here are few ways to protect yourself:
● Don’t respond to unknown numbers especially if it rang just once. Don’t attend the call or try to call back. Ignore all spammy unknown numbers
● Run trustable apps like Truecaller to block suspicious numbers and to notify the spammy numbers. From now onwards start Reporting such blank calls.
● Protect your SIM with a strong PIN and turn on two-factor authentication for your bank account and social media accounts as it adds an extra layer of safety.
● Activate DND (Do Not Disturb) as it helps cut down on random spam calls through your service provider. It won’t block everything but somewhat effective
● Avoid sharing your phone number publicly on all mediums like social media, job boards, or classifieds. otherwise, Ensure your privacy settings are tight before you do.
What Are Telecom Authorities Doing?
You’re not imagining things blank calls have caught the attention of the big guys too. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and TRAI have stepped in with measures to crack down on spam and scam callers.
In 2025, the government rolled out new AI-powered filters that can catch blank calls, robocalls, and even phishing attempts while they’re happening. Telecom companies like Jio, Airtel, and Vi have also started offering handy features like spam call labels and “last call report” tools. These let you flag suspicious silent calls quickly. That said, these systems are still a work in progress. Which is why your awareness and spreading the word matters just as much.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Ignore the Silence
These days, even silence on the other end of the line can mean something. Not every blank call is a scam, but the growing pattern points to more than just accidental dials. These calls can lead into a trap unknowingly in the form of fraud, data phishing, or even low-level harassment. The simple “hello” that you spoke into silence is what they might have needed. It’s happening more than imagined something bigger. In today’s world, this is not just a telecom issue but a cybersecurity concern, where protecting your number is as important as safeguarding your online accounts.
