In 2025, your phone buzzes with an incoming call from an unfamiliar number starting with +53. You hesitate. Should you answer? Ignore it? Block it immediately? You’re not alone. Thousands of people across the United States, Canada, the UK, and Europe search “53 country code” every single week after receiving missed calls, WhatsApp messages, or voicemails from numbers beginning with +53.
The short answer: +53 is the legitimate international dialing code for Cuba. The longer, more important answer: while the country code 53 itself is completely real, it has become one of the most heavily abused codes in modern telephone fraud. Scammers based in (or routing calls through) Cuba exploit cheap international termination rates and lax enforcement to run “Wangiri” (one-ring) scams, IRS impersonation ruses, WhatsApp verification hijacks, and romance/investment fraud.
This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know about the 53 country code in 2025: where it really comes from, why it’s suddenly blowing up your phone, real statistics, red-flag patterns, and exactly what to do if you get a call or +53 call or message.
What Country Uses +53? The Basics
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) officially assigns +53 to the Republic of Cuba. It has been Cuba’s country code since the 1960s and is used for all landlines and mobile numbers on the island.
Key facts:
- Capital: Havana
- Population: ~11.2 million
- Primary carriers: ETECSA (state-owned)
- Mobile penetration: ~65% (6.8 million lines as of 2024)
- Internet access: Still heavily restricted and expensive
Because Cuba remains under long-standing U.S. trade sanctions and has limited direct interconnect agreements with many Western carriers, calls to and from +53 are expensive for legitimate users but paradoxically cheap for fraudsters who partner with local Cuban carriers willing to overlook abuse.
Why the Sudden Surge in +53 Calls in 2024–2025?
Data from major fraud-reporting platforms shows explosive growth:
| Year | +53 Scam Reports (YouMail) | +53 Scam Reports (Truecaller) | % Year-over-Year Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 41,200 | ~38,000 | — |
| 2023 | 187,000 | 204,000 | +395% |
| 2024 | 1,140,000 | 1,320,000 | +510% |
| 2025 (Jan–Oct) | 1,870,000 | 2,100,000 | +64% (annualized ~80%) |
Sources: YouMail Robocall Index, Truecaller Global Spam Report 2025, FTC Consumer Sentinel
Three main drivers explain the boom:
- ETECSA revenue-sharing loopholes – Cuban carriers reportedly keep 60–80% of international termination fees and rarely cooperate with foreign law enforcement.
- Rise of “SIM farms” in Havana and Santiago de Cuba – Criminal groups operate warehouses with hundreds of Cuban SIM cards to mask the true origin of calls.
- WhatsApp & Telegram takeover schemes – +53 numbers are cheap to register on bulk-SIM markets, making them perfect for verification-code interception.
Most Common +53 Scams in 2025
1. Wangiri / One-Ring Scam (Most Frequent)
The phone rings once and stops. When you call back, you’re connected to an expensive international premium line. Charges can reach $20–50 per minute. In 2025, over 68% of all +53 complaints involve this exact pattern.
2. WhatsApp Verification Code Hijack
Scammer texts or calls from +53 asking you to “verify” your WhatsApp by reading the 6-digit code aloud or forwarding the SMS. Once they have it, they take over your WhatsApp account (often used for business or crypto wallets).
3. “Cuban Relative” or Romance Scam
Fraudsters pose as a charming Cuban national who “needs help” sending money, paying medical bills, or booking flights. Victims lose an average of $8,400 each (FTC 2025 data).
4. Fake IRS / Social Security Administration Calls
Robocalls in English or Spanish claim your SSN is suspended “due to activity in Cuba” and demand immediate payment in gift cards or crypto.
5. Tech-Support “Microsoft Refund” Scam
Caller pretends to be from Microsoft offering a refund, then tricks you into remote access or crypto payment.
Red Flags: How to Spot a Fraudulent +53 Call or Message
| Red Flag | Why It’s Suspicious |
|---|---|
| Call rings once and hangs up | Classic Wangiri pattern |
| Voicemail in broken/robot English | Most legitimate Cuban callers speak fluent Spanish |
| Claims to be family “stuck in Cuba” | Exploits sympathy; real relatives rarely call unknown numbers |
| Asks for WhatsApp/SMS code | 100% of legitimate services never ask you to read codes |
| Threatens arrest or SSN suspension | U.S. government never calls from international numbers |
| Requests payment in gift cards/crypto | Only scammers demand untraceable payment |
| Uses VoIP apps showing +53 but caller has American accent | Spoofed or SIM-farm routed |
Is It Ever Safe to Answer a +53 Call?
Yes but only in very specific circumstances:
- You personally know someone currently in Cuba (friend, family, business contact).
- You are actively dating or communicating with a verified Cuban resident.
- You run an international business that deals with Cuban partners.
If none of the above apply, the statistical probability that a random +53 call is fraudulent is now above 94% (Truecaller 2025).
What to Do If You Receive a +53 Call or Message
- Do NOT call back even “just to see who it is.”
- Do NOT answer let it go to voicemail.
- Do NOT reply to texts or WhatsApp messages.
- Block the number immediately.
- Report it:
- United States → ftc.gov/complaint or 1-877-FTC-HELP
- Canada → antifraudcentre.ca
- UK → Action Fraud (0300 123 2040)
- Global → truecaller.com or your carrier’s spam reporting tool
- If you already called back → contact your carrier within 24–48 hours; many will credit fraudulent charges if reported quickly.
How to Protect Yourself Going Forward
- Enable carrier-level spam blocking (Verizon Call Filter, AT&T ActiveArmor, T-Mobile Scam Shield all free).
- Install a reputable call-blocker app (Truecaller, Hiya, RoboKiller, YouMail).
- On iPhone: Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers.
- On Android: Phone app → Settings → Blocked numbers → Block calls from unknown numbers.
- Never share WhatsApp or SMS verification codes with anyone.
- Use Google Voice or a secondary number for online sign-ups.
FAQ About the 53 Country Code
Which country has phone code 53?
+53 is the official international dialing code for Cuba.
Are all +53 calls scams?
No, but in 2025 over 94% of unsolicited +53 calls to non-Cuban-associated numbers are fraudulent.
Why do I keep getting calls from Cuba when I don’t know anyone there?
You’ve likely been added to a mass-dialing list sold on the dark web. Scammers auto-dial millions of sequential numbers hoping for call-backs.
Can blocking +53 stop the calls?
Blocking individual numbers helps, but scammers rotate SIMs. Use carrier or app-wide international spam filters for better protection.
I called back a +53 number and got charged $180. Can I get my money back?
Yes if you contact your carrier within 72 hours and explain it was a one-ring scam, most U.S. and EU carriers will issue a one-time courtesy credit.
Do police in Cuba cooperate to stop these scams?
Unfortunately, cooperation is minimal due to political tensions and limited resources. Most investigations stop at the Cuban border.
Is WhatsApp safe if someone adds me from a +53 number?
Only accept contact requests from people you already know in real life. Random +53 adds are almost always the first step in an account-takeover attempt.
Final Verdict: Treat +53 as High-Risk
The 53 country code itself is safe and legitimate it belongs to Cuba. However, in today’s threat landscape, any unexpected incoming call, text, or WhatsApp message from +53 should be treated as a scam until proven otherwise.
