Avast, me hearties! Heed me warning, for a treacherous "Say Yes" phone scam be lurking in the shadows!
2023-08-18
Avast ye! Fear not the scallywags o' robocallers, me hearties! Listen here as Kurt "The CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals tricks to safeguard yer loot in this treacherous "Say Aye" phone scam. Aye, protect yerself, or walk the plank, ye landlubber!
In the language of a 17th century pirate, have ye ever received a call from an unknown number, only to be greeted with the question, "Can ye hear me?" Arr, this be a common tactic used in the "Say Yes" phone scam, which has been around for a while and is once again making the rounds, according to the Better Business Bureau.Arr, it’s important to be aware of this scam and others like it to avoid falling victim to them, me hearties. Here’s what ye need to know to protect yourself.
The "Say Yes" phone scam be a type of fraud where a person receives a call from an unknown number. If they answer it, the robocaller on the other end of the line will ask a question that prompts the victim to say "yes."
Arr, this could be something as simple as "Can ye hear me?" or a more specific question like "Is this [your name]?" or "Do ye have time to talk?" The goal of the scammer be to record the victim saying "yes."
What the victim doesn't realize is that "yes" be being voice recorded, and once the robocaller has that "yes," they can use it for whatever they want while pretending to be ye. They might use it to authorize charges to yer credit card or cellphone bill, to sign up for a program that ye'd be charged for or something else.
If this "Say Yes" phone scam sounds like something ye've experienced before, there's no need to panic, me mateys. It's not a guarantee that yer voice will definitely be used for something that will affect ye negatively.
However, it be important to be cautious when answering calls from unknown numbers and to be aware of the potential for this type of scam. Ye should also keep an eye on yer bank and credit card statements and make sure that there aren't any charges on there that ye did not authorize. I also recommend if ye do receive a call like this, that ye report it to the BBB Scam Tracker, arr.
Although these robocall scams be common, there be plenty of ways ye can protect yerself from them, me hearties. Here be some of me suggestions.
If ye be getting a call from a number that ye don't recognize, don't answer it, me matey. Ye're better off letting the number go to voicemail than risking the chance of yer voice being recorded for something ye don't want. If it turns out that the call be from a real person, ye can always call them back, arr.
If ye do end up answering the call and the caller be asking ye a question right off the bat, avoid saying 'yes.' Instead of answering their question, give a question right back to them, me hearties.
Ye can ask them something like, "Who am I speaking to?" or "What be the purpose of yer call?" Questioning them might scare them off and make them hang up anyway, so just make sure ye're avoiding saying the word yes at all costs, arr.
To protect yerself from scammers getting yer phone number in the first place, take steps to remove yer personal information off the web with a data removal service. Although no service can guarantee the complete removal of all yer data, having a removal service can be helpful in continuously monitoring and removing yer information from hundreds of sites over a longer period of time, me mateys.
Next time ye receive a call from an unknown number and they ask, "Can ye hear me?" be cautious, me hearties. It could be the "Say Yes" phone scam trying to record yer response, arr. The solution be simple. Just avoid saying "yes" and use our tips to stay safe from robocall scams in the future. Remember, staying aware and protecting yerself be the key, me mateys.