If You Ever Hear This 4-Word Phrase When You Pick Up the Phone, Hang Up Immediately
Hint: You'll recognize this phrase from commercials.
Few people still pick up phone calls from unknown numbers, but if you do you need to listen closely to what the person on the other end says. If you receive a call and immediately hear the phrase “Can you hear me?,” hang up. The phrase is used to coax you into saying “yes,” a word that, if said in your voice, is as good as gold for con artists.
The person on the other end will be recording the call, and would then use the track of you saying “yes” to access your sensitive information. How? The three-letter word is used frequently by companies to confirm account changes, security settings, and purchases, giving the scammer extensive access to your stuff. (Here are 20 cybersecurity secrets hackers don’t want you to know.)
To avoid these nefarious calls, be wary of unknown or unrecognizable numbers, always keep your personal information private, and don’t be afraid to question the legitimacy of the caller. Although countering back with “Can YOU hear me now?” may seem like the ideal way to really stick it to the scammer, it’s probably best to resist that urge.
Next, find out why you need to stop commenting on those viral Facebook posts.
