New Phone scam

sleepyjones

Seems to be a mainly US thing at the moment but worth keeping an eye out, basically if you get an unknown call don't answer "Yes" ... if they ask "Can you hear me?", say "I can" or something along those lines, but bear in mind the question could different ... just try and not answer with "Yes".

"The scam, which is making the rounds in several U.S. states, is pretty simple: you answer your phone and the person on the other end asks if you can hear them. If you answer Yes, they will use that recording as evidence that you authorized a payment or agreed to sign up for a service.

The easiest way to avoid these scams is to simply not answer blocked or unknown numbers. But that’s not an option for all of us, so if you have to take those calls, just be sure not to respond to that question with a Yes.

There may be other variations on the question, but the goal of the scammer is always the same: to get you to say Yes. "

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/unknown-caller-asks-can-you-hear-me/

glentoran99

old story, unproven


http://www.snopes.com/can-you-hear-me-scam/

libra10

"easiest way to avoid these scams is to simply not answer blocked or unknown numbers. But that’s not an option for all of us, so if you have to take those calls, just be sure not to respond to that question with a Yes."


Be very careful though. When I won £2000 with Radio City a few weeks ago, the phone number they called from was unknown to me, and I could have just rejected the call, and disconnected.


Luckily I didn't!

ChamomileTao

I just leave the ringer turned off and check for messages.

michaeladams

I agree that this theory hasn't been proven. It is a good suggestion/tips to avoid them, but I think ignoring them is far better. You could just wait for them to leave any message, or you could also check the number on Google or some sites like whycall(dot)me just to make sure that other people have reported this number as scam.