Miss a call from a 649 or 809 number? Be careful.

There's a new twist on an old scam, wireless advocates a warning.

Phone companies are noticing a pattern of calls that ring once or twice but automatically disconnect after that, according to the non-profit group mywireless.org.

Here's what happens:

When the number appears on the customer's cell phone as a missed call, it appears to be a typical domestic three-digit phone number starting with the "649" area code. If the customer decides to return the missed call, the call is returned to an Adult Entertainment chat line in the Turks and Caicos, outside the reach of U.S. regulators. While wireless companies are working to block suspicious numbers on their networks, some individuals may be victims of this and similar schemes involving international area codes and end up being billed for expensive international call and chat line charges.

What to do about it?

MyWireless.org urges wireless consumers to always check an area code first before returning a call to an unknown caller. Be skeptical about area codes you don't recognize, especially: "649" (Turks and Caicos); "809" (Dominican Republic); "284" (British Virgin Islands); "876" (Jamaica); "758" (St. Lucia); or "664" (Montserrat). There are dozens of area codes (mostly in the Caribbean islands) which connect callers to an international telephone number. In addition, if you do not make international calls, ask your wireless carrier to block outgoing international calls on your account.

The Federal Trade Commission has more details in a Fact Sheet for International Telephone Number Scams (PDF).

Government accuses Dish Network of calling those on "Do Not Call" list

Dish Network is being sued by the U.S. government over accusations that the satellite TV provider called numerous consumers who had entered their phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry, the Federal Trade Commission announced today.

The Justice Department filed complaints against Dish Network and two of its authorized dealers--Vision Quest and New Edge Satellite--also alleges that by using robocalls the companies violated the Telemarketing Sales Rule.

“Since the National Do Not Call Registry was launched, it has been enormously effective at protecting millions of Americans from unwanted telemarketing calls at home,” Eileen Harrington, Acting Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement. “But because a few bad actors still don’t get it, we want to make it crystal clear. If you call consumers whose numbers are on the Do Not Call Registry, you’re breaking the law. If your authorized dealers call consumers whose numbers are on the Registry, you’re breaking the law. Either way, we will protect the privacy of American consumers and we will hold you accountable.”

The FTC said the government is seeking civil penalties from Dish Networks, as well as making sure that Dish changes its policies and practices for marketing calls.

The attorneys general of California, Illinois, Ohio, and North Carolina joined the federal government in the suit.

The company responded with a statement:

We respectfully disagree with the allegations made today by the Federal Trade Commission and certain States that DISH Network has engaged in 'do-not-call' violations and that DISH Network should be held responsible for 'do-not-call' violations by independent retailers. An independent audit demonstrates that DISH Network is in compliance with 'do-not-call' laws, has proper controls in place, and is well within the safe-harbor provisions of the law. We also believe that the FTC is equating merely doing business with an independent retailer to 'causing' or 'assisting and facilitating' violations by that retailer, which creates a strict liability standard that does not exist in the law and was not intended by Congress. We look forward to resolving these differences of opinion through the judicial process.