Phone Call Scam Alert: Never Answer to these Four Words
Phone scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, but one of the simplest traps involves a scammer asking you these four innocent words: “Can you hear me?” Answering “yes” could unknowingly put you at risk.
Here’s how it works: Scammers record your voice and use your verbal consent to authorize fraudulent charges on your credit card, utility bills or other accounts. By capturing your “yes,” they can confirm a login and claim you agreed to purchases or services you never requested.
Along with being cautious with every call (and thinking before you speak):
– Avoid answering unfamiliar calls. If you don’t recognize the number, let it go to voicemail.
– Understand that there are chatbots and artificial intelligence (AI). With AI technology, a person’s voice can be mimicked where it becomes very hard to tell the difference between a real person and a machine. There is a newer version of the phone scam that starts with a line like “I’m sorry, I’m having issues with my headset..” just so you think that a real live person is on the other end. Don’t fall for it.
– Never say “yes” or give out personal information. If someone asks, “Can you hear me?” or other questions, hang up immediately.
– Sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry and consider using a call-blocking app.
– Report the call to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). By sharing the scammer’s phone number, the FTC can track and block illegal callers.
Contact us immediately if you do accidentally fall for a phone call scam. We also suggest that you change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication when available. Although they might be easier to remember, try to resist the urge to use the same password across multiple accounts.
Guard Well Identity Theft Solutions exists to provide you, your family and your employees from the damages of identity theft. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help or have any questions or concerns. We are available for you 24/7/365 at 888.966.4827 (GUARD) and [email protected].
Photo credit: John Tuesday via unsplash.com.
