Why do scammers ask can you hear me?
They defined it as, “Scammers open by asking a yes-or-no question, such as: “Can you hear me?” or “Is this X?” Their goal is to record you saying “yes” in response. They then may use that recording to authorize charges over the phone.”
What if I answered a scam call?
If you receive a spam robocall, the best thing to do is not answer. If you answer the call, your number is considered ‘good’ by the scammers, even if you don’t necessarily fall for the scam. They will try again because they know someone on the other side is a potential victim of fraud.
What happens if you answer yes to a robocall?
By responding “yes,” people notify robo-callers that their number is an active telephone number that can be sold to other telemarketers for a higher price. This then leads to more unwanted calls.
Can I be scammed just by answering my phone?
One of the most common scams when answering the phone is when the conman makes people think they are talking to an authority. They might even pretend to be the police or a member of their bank staff! They will even make it more realistic by revealing details of their personal details, PIN or online banking passcodes.
Can a scammer use your voice?
There’s no way for a scammer to use a recording of your voice to do any serious damage, according to researchers at snopes.com. It’s more likely that the scammer will try to intimidate you into paying by claiming that the voice recording is authorization of charges.
How do robo calls work?
A robocall is a recorded message delivered in the form of a telephone call. The caller is not a real person, but a machine, and the system uses automatic dialing to reach your number. Most robocallers use real people to record the messages, so hearing a bot voice on the other end of the line is rare.
Are robo calls illegal?
If you receive a robocall trying to sell you something (and you haven’t given the caller your written permission), it’s an illegal call. You should hang up. Then, file a complaint with the FTC and the National Do Not Call Registry. If you have a telephone, robocalls may be ruining your day.
How do robo-callers get you to say yes?
When the person answers the call, the scam artist tries to get the person to say “yes”—most often by asking, “Can you hear me?,” “Is this the lady of the house?,” or a similar question. By responding “yes,” people notify robo-callers that their number is an active telephone number that can be sold to other telemarketers for a higher price.
Are robocalls linked to fraud?
The only story I uncovered connecting one of the robocalls to fraud was a local news story out of Seattle about a man who received a Can You Hear Me? call and then found an unauthorized charge for a hotel on his credit card less than a day later.
What should you do if you get a robocall?
Anyone who has given up information on one of these calls should monitor their phone bill. You can also call your phone company to ask about free services to block robocalls. While the chance of identity theft is slim, Davis says if you have any concerns you should be proactive and call your bank immediately.
Why do robocalls sound like a real person?
Probably for engagement. By sounding like a real person, especially one who is having a little trouble with their audio, the robocall is able to keep you on the phone a little longer – at least long enough to get its quick sales pitch in.