How To Use One Ring Scam Alert On 2021+ Panasonic Cordless Phones

2021 and later Panasonic cordless phones, except the KX-TGC200/202 and KX-TGF892, have a feature which marks 1-ring or 2-ring calls as scams, and warns the user when they try to call them back.

If a caller hangs up within 1 or 2 rings, the call is most likely a one-ring scam, which often comes from international numbers. International calls are often expensive, so you don't want to call back one-ring scam callers.

Panasonic's one-ring scam alert feature will mark an incoming call as a scam if the caller hangs up after the first or second ring, depending on the one ring scam setting which can be changed by pressing MENU #798 on a handset or base.

Calls won't be marked as a one-ring scam if:

• ​The answering system answers the call.
• The number is saved in the phonebook.
• The name is saved in the allow name list and Automated Call Block is turned on.
• The call is answered or TELE.BLK is pressed before the incoming call disappears.
• The call is blocked.
• The call has been screened by Automated Call Block.
• The call is answered by the cell phone (for cell calls).

The manuals also say a call won't be marked as a one-ring scam if it's answered by a voicemail service, but I don't think that's true. The phone company would have to send a signal to the phone immediately as the call is answered by voicemail, and I don't think any phones or phone companies support that.

One-ring scam calls will be marked with an exclamation mark triangle icon in the caller list. If you try to call them back, an error tone (5 beeps) will sound and "Caution!" will be displayed for a few seconds. After that, you'll be asked if you want to call them back.

2021 and later handsets will also do this if one of the following icons are displayed regardless of whether it's registered to a one-ring scam alert-compatible base:

• A no sign with a # sign: A blocked call.
• A no sign with a robot wearing a headset: A call which didn't get through Automated Call Block.