Police are warning phone users about a new phone call scam that is tricking people into accidentally and unknowingly agreeing to pay for products or services that you know nothing about.
It starts with a call from an unknown number, but a local area code, which will make the user more likely to actually answer.
Police say that when you answer the phone, a recording or a person says hi and introduced themselves and eventually asks, "Can you hear me?"
Your natural reaction would probably be to say "yes." But that's where the scam starts.
Police say that the scammers are recording the phone call when you say "yes" so that if you ever dispute the false charges, they can play back your recorded "yes" to argue against you.
Police say to avoid this scam, follow this advice.
- Do not answer the phone from numbers you do not recognize,
- Do not give out personal information,
- Do not confirm your number over the phone,
- Do not answer questions over the phone.
And finally this piece of advice: hang up the phone and call 911 instead.