When you receive a call from an unknown source, and a stranger starts by asking you, “Can you hear me?”, “Is this you?”, “Are you there?”, you should be cautious because these are common tactics used in phone scams that can easily lead to becoming a victim.
According to a report by the Huffington Post, the Better Business Bureau in the United States, a non-profit organization, has pointed out that these questions are signs of a scam call. The organization tracks malicious advertising and consumer complaints in North America with the aim of promoting a fair and effective marketplace.
Melanie McGovern, the public relations and social media manager at the organization, explained that when a stranger asks you, “Can you hear me?” and you respond with “yes”, they might pretend to be government officials or bank representatives trying to scam you, or they may quickly hang up knowing that you can hear them, intending to contact you again later to deceive you.
Kelly Richmond Pope, a forensic accounting professor at DePaul University, stated that the question “Can you hear me?” in such calls should be the first red flag to be cautious of phone scams because it is not a normal way of starting a conversation.
The Better Business Bureau warned that in the worst-case scenario, scammers may use the recording of your response to commit crimes. However, Amy Nofziger, the assistant director of the Fraud Watch Network at the AARP, believes that people should be more concerned about scammers using gift cards for fraudulent activities.
She emphasized that if they ask for your personal information, ATM PIN, or request you to provide prepaid gift cards, it is a definite scam.
In response to strangers asking “Can you hear me?” in calls from unknown numbers, the experts provided the following advice:
Nofziger advised that when receiving such calls and feeling anxious or fearful, scammers have the upper hand as you may not rationally judge the situation and give away information they seek. She suggested not answering with a “yes”, but instead questioning them back: “Why are you asking this question?” to regain control of the conversation.
Pope mentioned that if scammers claim to know you and mention your name, it is still important not to let your guard down, as much information can be easily found through public platforms like social media. She noted that scammers aim to get close to you to extract more information.
If you receive calls from unfamiliar numbers, consider redirecting them to voicemail to avoid engaging with scammers in conversation.
McGovern advised against engaging in conversation with suspected scammers. If you do so, they will keep calling as they know you are a real person. Important calls such as medical appointments should leave a voicemail if necessary.
Furthermore, the Better Business Bureau recommended using caller ID to screen calls and avoid picking up from unknown numbers. You can simply end the call without further engagement, block the number, and report it to the relevant authorities. It is also important to regularly check your bank or credit card statements for any unauthorized transactions.