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In today’s digital age we increasingly encounter various forms of scams, and one of them is sophisticated and automated phone scams. These scams use modern technology to exploit your voice, which can lead to serious financial problems. In the following article we will explain how these scams work and how to effectively defend yourself against them.
How does the scam work?
The whole scam begins with an apparently innocuous phone call. It may be an automated call where you hear a pleasant voice on the other end, often female, presenting some service to you. At that moment you might not even realize you are speaking with a robot, because the monologue continues without interruption, which leaves you no room to respond.
Scammers then often use the question:
„Do you hear me?“ If you answer „yes“ to it, your voice is recorded and can later be edited to sound like consent to the purchase of a service or another binding agreement. In this way scammers obtain a recording that they can later use against you to extort money.
Real experience
One of the victims of this scam describes her experience as follows: „For me it was a female voice pleasantly talking about some service. It didn’t seem strange to me at all that there was no pause in her monologue for my response. Therefore I had no time to say: Excuse me, no thanks.“ Only when she tried to politely end the call did she realize she was talking to a robot. Fortunately she hung up immediately, which was the right decision. If she had answered „yes“ to the question „Do you hear me?“, scammers could have misused her answer.
How to protect yourself?
The best protection against these scams is prevention. If you receive a call from an unknown number, you should be cautious and follow the following recommendations:
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Do not accept calls from unknown numbers. If you are expecting an important call and an unknown number calls you, try to verify the caller first or call back later.
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Never answer „yes“ to questions from unknown callers. If the caller asks a question like „Do you hear me?“, hang up without answering.
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Use unknown-number blocking features. Most modern phones offer the ability to block unknown or suspicious numbers.
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Stay informed about current fraudulent practices. Follow information from organizations such as the Better Business Bureau, which regularly warn about new scams.
