What's Happening?
A phone scam involving the phrase 'Can you hear me?' is raising concerns among consumers and experts. The scam involves callers asking this question to elicit a 'yes' response, which can be recorded and potentially used to authorize unauthorized charges
on the victim's phone bill. This type of scam is known as cramming, where unauthorized service charges are added to bills. Despite the potential for misuse, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has reported no monetary losses directly linked to these calls. Experts like Kelly Richmond Pope, a professor of forensic accounting, warn that while the scam is concerning, it has not yet resulted in significant financial harm. Amy Nofziger from the AARP Fraud Watch Network advises that the real threat lies in scams that ask for personal information or payment through gift cards.
Why It's Important?
The significance of this scam lies in its potential to exploit unsuspecting individuals by using their own voice recordings against them. While the immediate financial impact appears limited, the scam highlights vulnerabilities in consumer protection against unauthorized charges. It underscores the need for increased awareness and vigilance among consumers to recognize and avoid such scams. The broader implication is a potential erosion of trust in phone communications, as individuals may become more cautious or skeptical of unsolicited calls. This could affect how businesses and service providers interact with customers over the phone, necessitating clearer verification processes.
