My Mom sent this to me via email.

Beware new "can you hear me" scam



It’s not a Verizon commercial:

If you receive a phone call from someone asking “can you hear me,” hang up.

You’re a potential victim in the latest scam circulating around the U.S.

Virginia police are now warning about the scheme, which also sparked warnings by Pennsylvania authorities late last year. The “can you hear me” con is actually a variation on earlier scams aimed at getting the victim to say the word “yes” in a phone conversation. That affirmative response is recorded by the fraudster and used to authorize unwanted charges on a phone or utility bill or on a purloined credit card.



“You say ‘yes,’ it gets recorded and they say that you have agreed to something,” said Susan Grant, director of consumer protection for the Consumer Federation of America. “I know that people think it’s impolite to hang up, but it’s a good strategy.”

But how can you get charged if you don’t provide a payment method? The con artist already has your phone number, and many phone providers pass through third-party charges.

In addition, the criminal may have already collected some of your personal information -- a credit card number or cable bill, perhaps -- as the result of a data breach. When the victim disputes the charge, the crook can then counter that he or she has your assent on a recorded line.

What can you do? If you suspect you have already been victimized, check your credit card, phone and cable statements carefully for any unfamiliar charges. Call the billing company -- whether your credit card company or your phone provider -- and dispute anything that you didn’t authorize on purpose.

If they say you have been recorded approving the charge and you have no recollection of that, ask for proof.

Thanks for the warning! When I get spam phone calls, I'm much more likely to say "F#%k off!" than "yes".

Haven't heard of that one over here yet....
But thanks for the warning.....

@Tielfan
try this with scammers
"Good Morning Federal Bureau of Investigations, Brooklyn Center office. how may I direct your call today?"
use the nearest big town instead of Brooklyn Center. it freaks their tree BIG TIME!!!!!!!

That sounds like fun! "Internal Revenue Service Center" might be good for a few chuckles too.