How to Avoid Being a Victim of the ‘Can You Hear Me’? Scam
How to Avoid Being a Victim of the ‘Can You Hear Me’? Scam
In recent weeks, there has been a resurgence in the “Can You Hear Me?” scam. In one week alone, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) received more than 2,000 complaints from consumers who were called by scammers.
When a consumer answers one of these scam phone calls, the person who initiated the call introduces himself or herself as a customer service representative and asks a question, such as, “Can you hear me?”
The scammer wants the victim to say yes because the call is being recorded. If the victim says “yes,” the scammer can use the recording in a variety of ways.
For instance, if the scammer has your credit card number, he can use the recording to place unauthorized charges with third-party vendors on your credit card account.
Scammers could also call you back at a later date to request payment for a product you never bought. However, scammers will use the recording to say you authorized the sale and threaten consequences if you do not pay. Unfortunately, many people pay to avoid the consequences.
Scammers can also use these recordings to place unauthorized charges on people’s phone bills.
The best way to avoid this scam is by not answering calls from numbers you do not recognize.
If you answer the phone and are asked a question, hang up and do not respond. If you engage the scammer in conversation, he or she will ask a lot of questions to try to make you say “yes.”
If you received one of these phone calls and said “yes,” monitor your bank accounts, credit card accounts and credit reports for any unusual activity.
Have you been victimized by the “Can You Hear Me?” scam? Contact the personal injury attorneys at Simien & Simien to find out how we can help you.
Call (800) 374-8422 or complete our Free Case Evaluation form.
