If someone asks, "Can you hear me now?" - don't answer - it's a scam
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
United States
January 27, 2017 11:53am CST
There are so many phone scams it's hard to keep up with them all. But this one caught my eye - or should I say my ear!!
You might get a call from a number you don't recognize but its from your own area code...so you answer it, right? Wrong!!!!!
The scammer on the other end of the line asks "Can you hear me now?" first off and your normal response is Yes or something similar.
The scam is that they record your 'yes' and use that as acceptance to buy whatever it is they are trying to sell. You won't know until you get a bill for the item. You might agree to be buying a $10,000 item!
Check out the attached article which tells you how to avoid getting taken with this scam.
photo: pixabay.com/en/phone-dial-old-arrangement-499991/
http://pix11.com/2017/01/26/can-you-hear-me-scam-has-police-warning-people-to-hang-up-immediately/
17 people like this
17 responses
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
28 Jan 17
@AbbyGreenhill The problem is that you never know whether a call is worthwhile. It could easily be a friend who has changed their number and is ringing around to inform people.
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
28 Jan 17
Well, not answering the phone is easily done, for me anyway...I hate talking on the phone to people I know, let alone strangers.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
27 Jan 17
We still use a landline but we have a talking caller ID - if we don't know you we don't answer!
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
6 Feb 17
I saw this scam posted on Facebook. Fortunately, I don't answer calls from unknown phone numbers, but even if I did, I'd either:
a) hang up
b) say no
c) use a blow horn
Or better yet, do all three, just not in that order. I would say no, use a blow horn, and then hang up! 
1 person likes this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
6 Feb 17
@AbbyGreenhill Hope he listens. If I did that to my husband he'd probably do the complete opposite! 
LOL
LOL@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
6 Feb 17
@sacmom My husband has answered the phone a half dozen times in the 20 years I've known him!!!
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
6 Feb 17
We don't answer either, but often if we're waiting for a call from within our area code we do answer - so my husband has strict instructions to hang up!
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
2 Feb 17
I'm sorry I missed this last week, we will see what happens if anything in the future...
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
2 Feb 17
Keep an eye on any credit cards.....
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
27 Jan 17
If they have your phone number they have all your information.
1 person likes this
@just4him (305818)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
27 Jan 17
@AbbyGreenhill I've never seen a bill. So that's good.
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
28 Jan 17
That is down right scary, thanks for the information
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
28 Jan 17
They sure come up with ingenious ways to mess people over.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
28 Jan 17
@AbbyGreenhill and it seems they are always one step ahead of the rest of us.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
27 Jan 17
Thanks for letting us know about this one!
I remember my grandparents had a phone like the one pictured. It weighed a ton!!
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
27 Jan 17
My parents had one, wait - so did I LOL!
1 person likes this
@kellyr634 (416)
• United States
27 Jan 17
Wow!
I hadn't heard of that one. Thanks for the warning!
I have not received a call like that yet,
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
27 Jan 17
It might be just in certain parts of the country....not really sure.
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
28 Jan 17
It will probably make its way around the world in time. But at least if people hear about it they can be prepared.
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
27 Jan 17
It is terrible that such scams are still happening. Guess we will always have these going on.
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
27 Jan 17
Cheaters will always find a new scam....
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
28 Jan 17
Oh good grief @AbbyGreenhill . There are so many phone scams anymore it's enough to drive you crazy.
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
27 Jan 17
You can never be too careful! You're welcome.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
27 Jan 17
You're welcome...it would be like my husband to answer so I am sure there are others who would also...
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (36428)
• Toccoa, Georgia
27 Jan 17
Wow, thanks for telling me about this. We do have caller ID so we really do not answer calls we don't recognize, but it is good to know this. I will tell others.
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
27 Jan 17
If it's same area code sometimes I breakdown and answer....but not often.
