When an unfamiliar number lights up your screen, it’s natural to feel a wave of panic. Most of us quickly silence the call and go about our day, hoping the mysterious caller won’t leave a voicemail. But, if you’re someone who braves the unknown and answers such calls, you may want to be extra cautious if the caller asks if you can “hear” them.
It might sound harmless, but experts warn this could be a red flag. So, the next time you hear this question, make sure alarm bells go off in your mind—it could save you from falling victim to a scam.
While many of us are well aware of phishing emails or text messages pretending to be from delivery companies, phone scams can be much trickier to detect. The quick interaction of a phone call leaves little time to analyze whether you’re dealing with a scammer.
Millions of Americans have already been targeted by scammers using advanced AI technology to steal both money and personal information, warns First Orion. This makes it even more critical to stay vigilant during every unexpected call.
One common trick involves a recorded voice asking the simple question: “Can you hear hear me?”
You might be wondering, “What’s so harmful about that?” Well, the answer lies in how scammers exploit the situation.
“This phone scam is particularly frightening [because] they simply rely on the human behavior of answering a quick question,” says Matthew Shirley, director of offensive cybersecurity operations at Fortalice.
By recording your “yes,” scammers can manipulate your voice to authorize purchases or access sensitive information, effectively pretending to be you.
Last month, a fraudulent cryptocurrency app pretending to be part of the Bitcoin wallet Leather was making rounds.
The app, which could even be found on the official App Store, lured unsuspecting users into downloading it.
This branding trick convinced many users that the app was genuine, leading them to download it without second thoughts.
These glowing endorsements helped lower the suspicions of potential victims.
Apple has since confirmed to iMore that the fake app has been removed from the App Store, putting an end to this particular scam.
