93 Country Code: What It Is & How to Spot Potential Scams

Let's be real, a mysterious call skips a heartbeat, whether it's from an unknown number from your own country code or from a different country code.

If you have received a call from the +93 country code and are wondering who it could be and why they are calling you, then let us tell you that it's a country code assigned to Afghanistan by the ITU.

Should you pick it? Or is it a scam? Let's discover.

What Is the 93 Country Code?

The +93 country code identifies Afghanistan. When you encounter a phone number beginning with +93, it means the connection originates from or is routed to that country. This numerical prefix is universally assigned to ensure accurate routing for all international telephone calls.

If you're not familiar with how international phone numbers are structured, here's a breakdown:

Country Code → This is the primary prefix, like +93, which designates the specific nation.

Area Code → These digits specify a particular city or region within that nation.

Local Number → This represents the individual telephone number for a subscriber.

How to Call Afghanistan from Different Countries?

You need to follow the international dialing format: first enter the international exit code, then + 93 code + Afghanistan area code + Afghanistan phone number.

For example: 001 93 20 XXXXXXX

Here are some exit code and the area code to which you want to call in Afghanistan.

💡Know the Correct Exit Code for Your Country

💡Major Afghanistan Area Codes

Is a Call from +93 Safe? Scams and Security Concerns 

Receiving a call from Afghanistan out of nowhere and thinking of it as a scam is a natural response, but the question is:

Is calling from +93 always a scam?

The answer is no: legitimate calls from Afghanistan do exist, especially in business, diplomacy, or humanitarian contexts. However, in recent years, there has been a lot of spam activity that has made the +93 country code a scam.

Let's have a look at the most common frauds:

Wangiri Scam

Wangari is a Japanese word that means 'one ring and cut.' In such a type of scam, the scammer places a brief call from the +93 country code and then cuts it right away. When the receiver sees the missed calls, they naturally call back on the same number, thinking it might be some emergency. People who have some connections living in Afghanistan often fall for this trap.

Once you call the same number back, you are routed to a premium-rate number and charged an exorbitant fee per minute.

Phishing

In such scams, the scammers pretend to be from banks or government agencies and ask you about your personal information, like your passwords, credit card numbers, bank account details, or other personal/sensitive information.

Social Engineering Frauds

Here, the scammers manipulate people on calls to reveal confidential information or perform actions that benefit them. Scammers exploit people's psychology through trust, fear, curiosity, or authority.

Not all +93 numbers are fraudulent, but the risk level is not low. So, in such scenarios, the main question is, What Should You Do?

Safety Tips If You Receive a Suspicious Call from the +93 Country Code

• If you do not have a single type of connection with Afghanistan, like business-related or charitable agencies, then do not pick up or call back unknown +93 numbers.
• If you have relatives or friends living in Afghanistan, then you can try asking them through their social media handles to confirm whether they are calling or not. And if you don't have any means to contact them, then see if the call is short and cut off immediately after one or two rings. If it does, then don't call back.
• Do not fall victim to the types of scams mentioned above if you don't know them personally, and never share your personal information, no matter how much they push you.
• You can enable the call-blocking feature on your phone to avoid suspicious international numbers calling.

How to Block or Trace a +93 Country Code Number?

If you want to protect yourself from suspicious calls from a +93 number, then you can either block or trace it.

To Trace a +93 Number?

There are different services available for reverse lookup. A reverse lookup service helps you find information about the specific phone number, email address, IP address, or domain name. Here are some famous services offering a reverse lookup feature:

1. Truecaller

Truecaller is a global platform used for identifying incoming calls, blocking spam, and offering other features like call recording or messaging. You can use this app to see the name linked with the phone number.

You just have to input the phone number into Truecaller, and it will give you the information required to see whether it's a legitimate call or a scam.

2. Hiya

Hiya is another platform that provides call protection and caller ID services. You can use it for blocking spam calls and even detecting scams. It offers a reverse lookup service to identify unknown callers and a history of spam or fraud related to that phone number.

3. Whitepages

If you are living in the US, then you can try out Whitepages. It's a US-based reverse phone lookup service to find the name and address of incoming unknown phone calls from any number, including +93.

To block +93 Calls?

You can block unwanted calls if you are getting disturbed or annoyed receiving spam, scams, or unwanted calls from the +93 country code.

1. On your smartphone, go to 'Phone' > 'Recent.'

2. For iPhone users, click the 'i' icon next to the call you want to block. For Android users, tap the number.

3. There, you can block the caller.

💡If you are being targeted repeatedly, then blocking will not be enough: you have to report it to your local consumer protection agency or cybercrime helpline to prevent the poison from spreading.

Conclusion

The +93 country code is for Afghanistan, but an unexpected call from there can be concerning.

This guide covers how international calling works, how to respond to these calls, spot suspicious activity, make calls to Afghanistan, and what precautions to take. Next time a +93 number appears, you'll know exactly what it is and how to handle it.