JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – You may need to think twice if you answer the phone and hear someone ask "Can you hear me?" That's the important question some scammers are now asking that could cause you to lose your hard-earned money.
We all get scam phone calls and it might be tempting to pick one up from time to time, but there's one that can turn you into a victim before you even realize it.
It's called the "Can you hear me?" scam, and if you answer "Yes," you could be in trouble.
According to recent scam reports made to the Better Business Bureau, the caller will say he or she is calling from a home security agency, a cruise line or maybe a government agency.
After introducing him or herself, the caller will ask you "Can you hear me?" hoping you'll say, "Yes." That's where it gets dicey.
According to these reports, the scammers then record your response and use it to sign you up for services.
They create a fake recording that has you saying "Yes," that you've confirmed you wanted those services.
Here's what the Better Business Bureau said you should to if you encounter this scam:
- If you receive an unsolicited robocall, just hang up.
- If you are on the Do Not Call list and a company calls out of the blue to ask questions, it's likely a scam. Avoid responding with "Yes," "Sure" or "OK."
- Don't hit buttons on your phone if prompted to do so, because that will confirm to the scammers you have an active phone number.
It's also a good idea to write down the phone number that called you. You can use it to file a scam report with the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker online.
For more information about the "Can you hear me?" scam, click here.
You can also visit the BBB Scam Tracker webpage to report a scam.