Payback_Official’s Post

BBB Scam Alert: The "Can you hear me?" phone scam is still ringing (hint: Just hang up!) By Better Business Bureau. March 8, 2024. How the scam works You get a call from someone who almost immediately asks, “Can you hear me?” Their goal is to get you to answer “Yes,” which most people would do instinctively in that situation. There may be some fumbling around; the person may even say something like, “I’m having trouble with my headset,” or “I’ll call you right back.” But in fact, the “person” may be a robocall recording your conversation, and that “Yes” answer you gave could later be edited to make it sound like you authorized a major purchase. Your “Yes” could also confirm to the scammer that the phone number they dialed is a real number, enabling future targeting of phone call scams. The FCC previously issued a unanimous ruling making AI-generated voices in robocalls illegal. In other variations of the scam, the caller may say, “Is this [your name]?” or some other question where the answer will be “Yes.” The caller may not hang up right away either and may continue the conversation to attempt to steal your personal information or record more of your voice.

How to spot a scam email! No doubt we’ve all received emails like this. On the face of it, this is a good attempt. But dig a little and you’ll soon see how easy it is to spot as a scam! So, what’s wrong with this? 1. It’s actually (or appears to be) from “arlan@mailologist.com” (tap on the ‘From’ field to see the actual email address) 2. The content makes little sense. The scammer couldn’t even be bothered to add the bullet points after the colons. What steps? Contact who? 3. It encourages a sense of urgency. Warning of a deactivation of my account! Gulp! 4. The email is addressed to “Dear valued customer”. All other HMRC emails are actually addressed to me by name, because they know it! Never click on the link to unsubscribe. Doing so will only expose you! Send to junk, and enjoy your mini victory over scammers who are trying to exploit your hard work! Thanks for your email Arlan. I’ll ignore you for now if that’s ok!

I'm surprised to learn something about phone scams from Reader's Digest. How many of these have hit you or someone you know?  - I'm mildly embarrassed to admit an FBI scammer had me going for a few minutes one time  - Now that I understand it, I've been hit with the "can you hear me?" scam and will be more aware  - One ring scam - I've kind of heard of this one before and definitely seen it, but never called back Imagine a future where these are entirely or nearly extinct. Hiya eliminates these daily on two fronts:  𝟏. Working with networks and service providers to identify and eliminate scammers and spam calls before their calls get to your mobile device.   𝟐. Working with brands to label their calls, which then make unknown calls stand out as even less trusted. In the article I don't love the images they use as an example showing calls branded "FBI" but actually representing a scammer - there are many safeguards in place to prevent this from happening. More about each of these scams in the article here: https://lnkd.in/geUwumbz Also interesting to see Hiya's breakdown of international phone scams by country: https://lnkd.in/gVhDDkrD

⚠ Beware of this scam  Scammers are using auto-dialers to call cell phone numbers across the country. Scammers let the phone ring once — just enough for a missed call message to pop up. The scammers hope you’ll call back, either because you believe a legitimate call was cut off, or you will be curious about who called. If you do, chances are you’ll hear something like, “Hello. You’ve reached the operator, please hold.” All the while, you’re getting slammed with some hefty charges — a per-minute charge on top of an international rate. The calls are from phone numbers with three-digit area codes that look like they’re from inside the U.S., but actually are associated with international phone numbers — often in the Caribbean. The area codes include: 268, 284, 473, 664, 649, 767, 809, 829, 849 and 876. https://lnkd.in/etrS7hFk

CarePatrol is sharing this crucial information from the Delaware State Police: The following tips can help you avoid becoming victim to a scam: • Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers. If you accidentally do so by accident, hang up. • If a caller (live or recorded) suggests hitting a button to stop receiving calls from them, hang up. This can be a trick to engage you in conversation. • Never give out any personally identifiable information– for example, account numbers, Social Security Number, passwords or PINs, or your mother’s maiden name. • If a caller claims to be with a legitimate company, call back using the phone number on a statement you have from them, or on their verified, secure website. This is particularly important if the caller asks you to verify personal information or make a payment. • If you are immediately pressured for information – be cautious. You are not obligated to answer any question asked of you. • Set your own password for your voicemail. Some voicemail services are set up to automatically allow access to your mailbox if you call in from your own phone. If a scammer spoofs your number, they can access your voicemail if you have not set a password or PIN requirement in place. • Use a call blocking tool (talk to your phone company) or reputable app on your mobile device. There are different options for different platforms. Do some research and choose the one that makes the most sense for you. Click below for more information from the Federal Trade Commission regarding scams: https://lnkd.in/gMXhUPac

If you pick up the phone and the caller says... 📞📞📞 "Can you hear me?" - or - "Am I speaking to (insert your name)?" ... 🛑 DO NOT SAY... YES! Why? Because that is the answer that the scammers are looking for. As reported today in USA Today and Yahoo News, the call might even be awkward or the person on the other line may say they're having trouble with their headset or that they'll call you back, but in fact, the 'caller' may be a robocall recording your conversation, and that 'Yes' answer you gave could later be edited to make it sound like you authorized a major purchase. So what should you do? ✅ Don't pick up calls from numbers you don't know. ✅ Hang up without speaking especially if the questions seems weird. ✅ If you get any unsolicited calls from businesses or institutions that you think could be valid, hang up anyway. Look up the official number and call them back. ✅ Block scam and telemarketing numbers in your phone. ✅ Join the Do Not Call Registry at DoNotCall.gov to help limit telemarketing and sales calls. This can make it easier to recognize scam callers. ✅ Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for unauthorized charges...even smaller ones. Recent scams are using smaller recurring charges that mimic popular subscriptions. ✅ Avoid giving out information like your birthday, social security number and account numbers over the phone unless you placed the call to a verifiable phone number. ✅ Do not transfer money to someone you don't know personally. Reputable businesses and government agencies (like the IRS) do not request cash transfers over the phone. ✅ Be extremely wary of calls or messages claiming that you've won money or prizes. Scams are prevalent and can be creative so trust your gut instinct. You can never get in trouble for hanging up or not answering an unknown caller. It's better to be safe than sorry. And btw - have a question about suspicious mail you've received? Feel free to reach out. This is very common for people who have their credit pulled or looking to buy a home. - Toni

We all say we’ll never fall for it. But many of us do. Scammers know how to talk and how to persuade. Check out this brief article highlighting the most popular telephone scams. https://lnkd.in/eB6fXrAy

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