The Call Opening That Signals a Potential Scam

You’ve probably received a call from an unknown number and wondered if you should answer. It’s smart to be cautious. A specific type of call opening has become so common in scam reports that recognizing it is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself. We’ll reveal this common red flag and explore other deceptive tactics to keep you safe.

The Phrase That Should Make You Hang Up Immediately

The ad you clicked on asked about a call opening that appears in many scam reports. While scammers use many scripts, one of the most frequently reported and dangerous openings is a simple, innocent-sounding question: “Can you hear me?”

This question seems harmless, which is exactly why it’s so effective. Your natural instinct is to respond with “yes.” However, you should never say that word. Instead, you should hang up the phone immediately.

Why Is “Can You Hear Me?” So Dangerous?

This tactic is known as voice signature fraud. Scammers record your “yes” response. They can then edit that recording and use it as proof that you agreed to a purchase, subscribed to a service, or authorized a charge on a credit card.

Here is how the scam typically works:

1. The Call: You receive a call from an unknown number. When you answer, the person on the other end asks, “Can you hear me?” or a similar question designed to get a “yes” from you, such as “Is this [Your Name]?”
2. The Recording: The scammer’s system records your affirmative response.
3. The Fraud: Days or weeks later, you might see an unexpected charge on your bank or credit card statement. When you dispute the charge with the company, they may play back a recording of your voice saying “yes,” claiming it’s proof you authorized the transaction.

Although it can be difficult for scammers to successfully use these recordings to enforce a charge, the hassle and stress of fighting it are significant. The best defense is to never give them the recording in the first place.

Other Deceptive Call Openings to Watch For

The “Can you hear me?” scam is just one tool in a scammer’s arsenal. To fully understand their tactics, it’s important to recognize other common openings that signal a fraudulent call.

1. The Call That Starts With Silence

Have you ever answered the phone to hear a few seconds of silence followed by a click or a beep before someone starts talking? This is a telltale sign of a robodialer. These automated systems are used by telemarketing companies and scam call centers to dial thousands of numbers at once. The silence is the time it takes for the system to connect you to an available human operator.

Even if the person who eventually speaks sounds legitimate, the use of a robodialer for an unsolicited call is a major red flag. Legitimate businesses you have a relationship with, like your bank or doctor’s office, will not contact you this way.

2. The Urgent “Problem” With Your Account

This is one of the most common forms of impersonation scams. The caller pretends to be from a well-known company or government agency to create a sense of panic and urgency.

• “This is Amazon support calling about a suspicious purchase of an iPhone 15 on your account.” Scammers know millions of people use Amazon. They hope to catch you off guard, making you react emotionally without thinking. Their goal is to get you to give them your account login details or remote access to your computer to “fix” the non-existent problem.
• “We are calling from your bank’s fraud department to report a suspicious transaction.” Similar to the Amazon scam, this tactic uses fear to manipulate you into revealing sensitive information like your PIN, online banking password, or card numbers.
• “This is the Social Security Administration. Your SSN has been suspended due to criminal activity.” This is a complete fabrication. Government agencies like the Social Security Administration or the IRS will almost always initiate contact through official mail, not with a threatening phone call.

3. The Exciting “You’ve Won!” Notification

This classic scam preys on excitement and the desire for good fortune. The caller will enthusiastically inform you that you’ve won a lottery, a new car, a free vacation, or a large sum of money.

The catch is always the same: to claim your prize, you must first pay a fee. They will ask for money for “taxes,” “shipping costs,” or “processing fees.” They often demand payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency because these methods are untraceable and impossible to reverse. Remember, if you truly won a legitimate prize, you would never have to pay money to receive it.

4. The Distressed “Grandparent” Plea

This is a particularly cruel scam that targets seniors. A scammer calls and says something like, “Grandma? It’s me. I’m in trouble.” They will claim to have been in an accident, arrested, or stranded in a foreign country and desperately need money.

They often have just enough information, perhaps found on social media, to sound convincing. They will beg you not to tell anyone else in the family out of embarrassment. This isolation tactic prevents you from verifying the story. They then instruct you to wire money or send gift card codes immediately.

How to Protect Yourself: The Best Practices

Knowing the tactics is the first step. The next is knowing exactly what to do.

• Don’t Engage: If a call seems suspicious, just hang up. You don’t need to be polite.
• Never Confirm Personal Info: Do not confirm your name, address, date of birth, or any other details, even if the caller seems to have them already.
• Be Wary of Urgency: Scammers create a false sense of urgency to prevent you from thinking clearly. Any call demanding immediate action or payment is likely a scam.
• Verify Independently: If a caller claims to be from your bank or a company, hang up. Find the official phone number for that organization on their website or your statement and call them directly to verify the claim.
• Block and Report: Block the number after you hang up. You can also report scam calls to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) through their website. This helps authorities track and combat these operations.

By staying vigilant and recognizing these deceptive openings, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to a phone scam.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I already said “yes” to a “Can you hear me?” call? Don’t panic. The main thing to do is be extra vigilant. For the next few weeks and months, carefully review all of your bank and credit card statements for any unauthorized charges. If you see anything suspicious, report it to your financial institution immediately.

How do scammers get my phone number in the first place? Scammers acquire phone numbers in several ways. They can get them from public records, social media profiles, or through illegal data breaches where companies’ customer lists are stolen. They also use software that simply dials random or sequential numbers until it gets a connection.

Are all calls that use robodialers scams? No, not all of them. Legitimate organizations may use automated dialers for informational messages, such as a flight cancellation notice from an airline or an appointment reminder from your doctor’s office. However, unsolicited telemarketing robocalls are almost always illegal and often fraudulent.