A SECURITY expert has revealed the simple rule to follow that can save you from some of the most common phone scams.

Phone call scams can strike at any time on your iPhone or Android – and are seriously dangerous.

They could end up costing you significant sums of money.

Or you could be tricked into handing over financial info or other personal details that allow you to be defrauded or extorted.

We spoke to Professor Lisa Wilson, member of International Cyber Expo's advisory council, who warned that phone call scams can be seriously dangerous.

Professor Wilson warned that there are huge phone number databases that scammers can exploit.

And said that crooks can often "access legitimate data without your knowledge" in order to trick you.

Thankfully there's an easy trick that can help you avoid most phone call scams.

"For me, to be honest, any unknown caller or unknown number not in my phone address book will be deemed a scam," Professor Wilson explained in an exclusive interview with The U.S. Sun.

"It will remain an unanswered call, without exception.

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"If not a scam, the caller will leave a legitimate return number and credible message for me to call them back.

"It’s a matter of it’s a scam until proven otherwise!"

However, you should still be wary of one ring scams.

This is where a crook calls you but hangs up after one ring – hoping that you'll call them back.

They may even leave a convincing voicemail to trick you into dialing the number.

But it's all just a ploy to get you to call a premium rate international number that will quietly drain your bank.

If you receive a missed call, it's best to avoid calling them back unless you know exactly who is on the other end of the line.

When a voicemail threatens you with a bill or offers a prize from an official organization, consider contacting the company directly.

Only use contact details from the official website or app – and not any numbers or emails left on the voicemail.

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