The number one general fraud scam in Algeria during 2025, particularly affecting the broad public, was a type of high-volume telecommunications fraud known as Wangiri Fraud (or the “Missed Call” Scam).
While high-level corruption and money laundering dominated the headlines (Algeria was added to the EU’s high-risk list for money laundering in 2025, leading to major industrial fraud trials), these crimes do not affect the general population as frequently as the pervasive digital scams.
The Number One General Scam: Wangiri Fraud
The Tactic: Fraudsters call a mobile number and hang up after just one ring, leaving a missed call notification. The number is typically an expensive international premium-rate line that they control.
The Fraud: Victims, out of curiosity or concern, call the number back. As soon as the connection is made, the victim starts paying exorbitant premium call fees, with the criminal collecting a large percentage of those fees.
Prevalence: Wangiri (Japanese for “one ring and drop”) is effective globally, but remains highly prevalent in the North African region because it’s a low-risk, high-volume method that works regardless of the victim’s bank or level of digital literacy.
Other Highly Prevalent Digital Scams
Following Wangiri, the next most common threats are those targeting credentials:
Phishing and Impersonation: General phishing attacks (emails and SMS) are used to steal personal information and banking credentials. Scammers pose as banks or service providers to get the user to click a link or divulge passwords.
Online Purchase Scams: Fraudulent online marketplaces and e-commerce platforms offer products at suspiciously low prices, collecting payment and personal information without ever delivering the goods.
Given Algeria’s growing internet penetration (over 70% in early 2024), these digital forms of social engineering are expected to accelerate rapidly.