There is a new phone scam. The caller identifies himself as a business and then asks if you can hear clearly. If you say, "Yes", your voice is recorded. Purchases are then made. When you say you didn't order the product or service, your recorded "Yes" answer is the "proof" that you did. There are other questions that may be asked such as, "Are you the head of the household?" The thing the questions have in common is that they all can be answered with "yes."
The best thing to do is to hang up when you receive a call like this. These calls may also ask you to press a button if you want to be put on the Do Not Call Registry. If you do press a button, scammers will identify your phone as an active phone number. Again, the thing to do is to hang up. If you have their phone number, write it down and notify the Better Business Bureau.
Source: Clark Howard
Editor's Note: This scam is still considered unverified but it is good information to consider. Voice mail or an answering machine works well to stop most scams or telemarketers if dealing with an unknown number.
Here is a link for more information on this phone scam.
http://www.snopes.com/can-you-hear-me-scam/
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I don't doubt this scam exists. People who are too sorry to work at a regular job will sink to any level and do most anything to rip you off.
I avoid all these scams. I never answer my phone. If a message is left and it's from someone I choose to speak with; I then return the call.
Thanks, Judy
I get calls now that you say "hello" no one responds, then you say "hello" again and the lady goes oh sorry I didn't hear you! Can you hear me? And then they offer something - I hang up. Now, I just block callers I do not know
It sure is awful all the telemarketers calling non stop all day long.
I've heard that also, how the scammers ask you direct question for instance: "can you hear me now"? and that is their intent, to get a person to say (yes) on the phone so they can record it.
When I was asked anything on the phone, I ignore their questioning, and just say: What do you need, or, what can I help you with, and then I learned it's just another phony fake call.
I tried blocking the numbers of the scam calls, but it seems daily they change them, so anymore, I quit answering the phone, and let the answering machine pick it up of course unless I recognize the number.
Ann Landers had a great comment years ago in the newspaper, and she said:
A phone ringing is an "indication" but not an "obligation".
I think of that when the phone is ringing anymore, as it's sure not like it use to be.
I generally don't pick up the phone if it isn't a recognized phone number. They can leave a message and I can call them right back.
The only time this got me in trouble is when my son's phone was dead and he used a friend's to get a ride.
I sing to the telephone scams. My mother's song was I'm only a bird in a glided cage of course she was tone deaf. They hang up. I sing God Bless America and they hang up. One had his manager call back and I sang the Battle hymn of the Republic. By the way I'm tone deaf too. When people over my house I still do it. It gets such a laugh that they are doing it now.
Sometimes, when I do answer the call and realize it's a telemarketer, I ask them if they can hold on for a second and I just lay the phone down and waste some of their time. That's fun!!
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