Hello Scam

This is not a common scam, but one worth mentioning. The idea is that an unethical company will ask if you could hear them. Most people will respond with “yes”. After this, they don’t need the call any more. They recorded your “yes” and will use it to “validate” your authorization for purchases.

The way to avoid this scam, is if someone asks of you could hear them, confirm that you can without saying yes. For example, you might ask what they want instead. If they insist that you say yes, then it is definitely a scam, and you should just hang up the phone.

This will be a hard habit to break, but one worth breaking in this unethical world. Again, reply with “What do you want?” or “How can I help you?”. Just be mindful of how you communicate with a stranger on the phone.