What are robocalls? Why do they hang up as soon as I answer? | March 22, 2025

Your phone rings. You pick it up, but after a few seconds, the call is cut off. Nothing unusual? However, this phenomenon is far from trivial. Behind these furtive calls lies a well-honed strategy used by unscrupulous companies and scammers. Why do these calls exist? What are they really for? And above all, how can you avoid falling victim to them?

A well-oiled technique for spotting targets

Robocalling, or automated calling, is a method that uses software to dial and make calls en masse. While some calls are intended to offer commercial offers, others have much more dubious intentions.

One of the most intriguing practices is that of ghost calls, communications that hang up immediately after you pick up.

Why do these calls exist? Simply to verify that your number is active. Once confirmed, it is added to databases, resold to telemarketing companies or scammers looking to trap their future victims. This is the gateway to more sophisticated scams, such as phone phishing.

Blocking numbers is not enough

Faced with these repeated calls, one of the first reactions of users is to block the number. But this solution has its limits.

Scammers use advanced techniques like number spoofing, where they display a fake number on your screen, often a local number to inspire trust. The result? Even if you block one call, another will pop up with a slightly different number.

Another trick they exploit: temporary numbers. Thanks to telephone line generators, they constantly change numbers, making any attempt at manual blocking ineffective.