Posted on 02/06/2017 9:10:58 AM PST by oh8eleven
NORFOLK, Va. – 'Can you hear me?' It is a simple question, but police say answering it could make you the victim of a scam.
After the introduction comes the question, "Can you hear me?"
“All of us, our natural response is to say, 'Yes,' or 'Sure,' or 'Yes I can,'” said Hughes, but she says this is exactly what you do not want to do.
Police say scammers record your ‘yes’ response. In one variation of the scam documented by the Better Business Bureau in October, 2016, the criminals may pretend to be from a cruise line or home security company and will later bill you for products or services you never asked for.
(Excerpt) Read more at wnep.com ...
Good, but they use a hundred different numbers so blocking one or two or even 20 isn't a lot of help.
I don’t answer the door either, unless I’m expecting someone. If it’s important or the cops I’m sure they will make that apparent.
I don’t answer the door either, unless I’m expecting someone. If it’s important or the cops I’m sure they will make that apparent.
Last week, I got a call from a number within my area code that told me I was eligible for something because I had stayed at one of their resorts in the past. It must have been in a past life, because I have never been to anything remotely resembling a resort in this one.
The gal on the other end did have a "cute" voice and a cheery delivery, but I terminated the call with more than my usual speed.
Mr. niteowl77
I cannot believe they advised people to call 911 regarding this.
Bad advice.
.
I’ve gotten the “resort” scam calls too, usually with a long pause, then “Oh I’m sorry, there must be something wrong with my headset”
They try to tell me I stayed at one of their resorts, I just tell them “I’ve never stayed at a resort” and hang up.
Another thing: I’ve been getting a lot of recorded spam calls on my cell. Since my business sometimes comes from referrals in which past clients suggest that folks call me I can’t just ignore all calls I don’t recognize. But I’ve discovered that if I accept the call but say nothing for a few seconds the autodialer hangs up and moves on to the next victim. If there’s a person on the line you can usually hear them breathing, or they say (hello?) after five seconds or so.
Identify theft, mortgage scams, credit-card phishing, etc... is the unavailable result of the way our monetary system is organized.
We have a printed, fiat currency, and a highly financialized economy based on issuing and trading DEBT. More and more debt must be produced to produce any growth in the economy.
Therefore, debt is commodity, which must be pushed into all corners of society. Therefore, we must make taking debt ever-easier to obtain.
And because those debt-delivery channels are now everywhere, the opportunity for scammers is to ride-along.
I got the same call last week. Came from within my area code and I was waiting for a return call from my car service, so I picked it up. It was this stupid, obnoxiously perky girl. I said “Hello,” I heard nothing, “Hello?” She giggled and goes, “Oh I needed to adjust my headset, can you hear me?” Me: “I said Hello.” Then she started into her spiel about a resort and I hung up.
I think your recollection of the details makes more sense. It happened to a neighbor of mine. Some scumbags sure can be clever.
Freegards
How do they do that if you don’t give them any CC data?
**********
In many cases, they add charges on to your phone bill. The recording of you saying “yes” to their question is the documentation they use that authorizes their scam billing. Not unlike the old days where you were asked to accept charges when receiving a collect call, or where you get fooled into dialing a number to an offshore area code where they bill you exorbitant amounts similar to the old 900 or 976 phone numbers.
Third party phone billing, for one.
I recall back in the early 90s they would ask ‘do you have long distance’ and when you said yes they would somehow sign you up for extra fees. I think it was a company called ‘long distance’ or something.
Freegards
******************
It was back when you had to choose a long distance provider.. the telemarketer would get you to say “YES” to “Can I put you on HOLD?” ,, the trick was “HOLD” was Home Office Long Distance ,, and their rates were astronomical. You were slammed onto their network and it took forever to get things corrected.
Exactly. If it is important, they'll leave a message.
....or send a letter....
.........or send a CERTIFIED letter.......
..............or send a CERTIFIED letter, signature required....
......................or send a process server.........
bottom line: If they really, REALLY want to get ahold of you, they will.
“...later bill you for products or services...”
How do they do that if you don’t give them any CC data?
*******************
They do it through your phone bill .. the phone companies get a percentage of the scam$$$$
“... they add charges on to your phone bill.”
How does the telco allow that to happen? Is it even legal wo/ owner’s permission, or does everyone ok that by simply having a phone service?
Bingo! Adopted that rule twenty years ago. Another rule is that I don't answer the phone if I “can't talk” — no matter who is calling. Am baffled and offended when I call someone who says, “I can't talk right now!” I think, “So, why did you pick up the phone?” There are rare exceptions, when people really are in crisis, are waiting for a call, and can't bear the ringing or something like that, but those are exceedingly rare these days. With caller id and voicemail, there's just no reason to blindly answer the phone.
The nuttiest when it comes to a compulsion to answer every call are the over 65 folks. My mother, who is in her 70s, is infuriated when her brother calls her during “The Five” on Fox because, she says, he knows she loves to watch that show. I ask, “Mother, why do you answer the phone? Why don't you let it go to voicemail and call back after 6pm?” My mother's inane response” “What if it's an emergency?” I tell her that makes no sense, as if it's not as if she never leaves the house out of fear her brother will call with an emergency!
Anyway, turn off the ringer when you don't feel like talking and don't answer the phone if you don't know who is calling. Secrets to a happier life.
Snopes: unproven
http://www.snopes.com/can-you-hear-me-scam/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social
Regardless, as others have stated, I make it a habit to not answer calls I don’t recognize.
Or - if I do answer and hear dead silence (indicating a robo-call is connecting me to a “person”) - I’ll immediately hang up...
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