‘Can You Hear Me’ Scam Making The Rounds In Pinellas

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Pinellas County Consumer Protection is warning residents about a clever new robocall scam that’s designed to part victims from their money. The “can you hear me” scam is designed to trick victims into simply saying “yes.”

That one-word affirmation is enough to give the bad guys – or girls – the power they need to make charges to a victim’s phone bill, utility bill or stolen credit card, the agency said. The response is recorded and then used against victims, the agency noted in a media release.

“To add legitimacy to the transaction, the scammer may have already collected some personal information about the victim,” the agency warned. “When the victim disputes the charge, the scammer will validate the charge with the recording of the victim saying ‘yes,’ therefore approving the charge.”

Residents are warned that scammers have a fast learning curve and may pose questions other than “can you hear me” to get that sought after “yes” response.

“The best way to prevent becoming a victim of a telephone scam is to not answer calls from unfamiliar numbers,” the agency suggested. “Residents are advised to hang up if they answer the (scam) call.”

People who believe they’ve been victimized by the scam are advised to:

• Check their credit card, phone and cable statements for unauthorized charges
• Dispute unauthorized charges with the billing company
• If consumers are told they approved a charge, they should request proof

To learn more about scams or to file a complaint, visit Pinellas County Consumer Protection online.

Image via Shutterstock