The Danger of Saying "Yes" to a Spam Caller

The "Can You Hear Me?" Scam

You answer the phone, and a friendly voice asks, "Can you hear me?" Instinctively, you reply, "Yes." Without realising it, you may have just fallen victim to a sophisticated voice-recording scam.

How the Scam Works

Fraudsters record your affirmative response to use as a voice signature. Armed with your recorded "Yes," they can authorise fraudulent charges on stolen credit cards or sign you up for expensive utility services that rely on verbal confirmation.

Are You Really at Risk?

While Action Fraud and Ofcom have issued warnings about this tactic, successfully pulling off a scam using just a voice recording is difficult, as most UK financial institutions require additional security verification. However, the recording can still be used to intimidate you into paying fake invoices.

How to Protect Yourself

• Never answer with "Yes": If an unknown caller asks if you can hear them, reply with "I can hear you" or "Who is calling?"
• Hang up immediately: If you suspect a robocall or scam, do not engage. Just hang up and report the number.
• Monitor your statements: Check your bank and utility statements (e.g., from British Gas, NatWest, etc.) regularly for unauthorised charges if you suspect you've been targeted.