The “yes” fraud when answering the phone
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2024 9:14 am
Decorative image - The fraud of “yes” when answering the phone
We explain the "yes" phone scam in our blog. Learn how to protect yourself from this phone scam and avoid falling victim to this type of scam.
In this digital age, where personal information is more exposed than ever, scammers and cybercriminals have found an opportunity in phone calls to trick unsuspecting people. For example, using the technique of vishing (a combination of "voice" and phishing ) they fraudulently obtain confidential information from users. But in a constant process of innovation, cybercriminals have identified other ways to take advantage of users to obtain their benefits, such as recording their voice.
Phone calls remain a common form of communication and regardless of who is paraguay phone number data calling us (friends, family or strangers), it is common to respond with a simple “yes”. However, few of us are aware of the hidden risks that can arise from giving such a seemingly harmless response.
The simple act of saying “yes” can become a gateway to a host of problems. By recording our voice, scammers can use it to authorize financial transactions, contracts, or even falsify our identity. Furthermore, voice recordings can also be manipulated and used as evidence in situations that could put our reputation at risk.
Below we explain step by step the process that this type of fraud usually follows:
Step 1: The initial call
The victim receives a phone call from a scammer who pretends to be a representative from a bank, sales department, customer service, support or other. The scammer may use social engineering techniques to build trust, such as mentioning basic personal information about the victim or referring to a supposed recent transaction. It may also be the case that the victim is called and when the victim says “yes”, no one answers. In the latter case, obviously no conversation takes place between the sender and the recipient.
Step 2: Establish dialogue and ask questions
The scammer will start a conversation with the victim and may ask seemingly innocuous questions to elicit “yes” responses. These questions could include phrases such as “Are you authorizing transactions at this time?” or “Are you okay with receiving updates from our services?” It is common for the cybercriminal to remain silent, waiting for an affirmative response from the victim, and then hang up within a few seconds without providing a response.
Step 3: Recording the "yes" response
As we have already mentioned above, the scammer waits patiently for the victim to answer "yes" to one of the questions, while recording everything with some application.
Step 4: Using Voice Recording
With the voice recording in their possession, the scammer will try to use it to sign up for a banking service in the victim's name, conduct a survey in their name, etc. They can do this by calling the financial institution or service provider and providing the voice recording as supposed confirmation of identity.
Step 5: Victim detection and action
When the victim detects that his or her identity is being used without his or her consent, either because he or she is contacted directly by a service, because he or she is identified online or by any other means, he or she must take immediate measures to resolve the problem. Below we explain how to do this in more detail.
What should I do if I have been a victim?
When you find yourself in a situation where you have said “yes” to a phone call and you suspect it might be a scam attempt, it is important to act quickly. Here are some steps you can take:
Stay calm: It's understandable to feel worried or scared, but try to stay calm and think clearly. Making rational decisions will help you deal with the situation more effectively.
Hang up the call: If you suspect the call is fraudulent or you are uncomfortable with the situation, simply hang up. Do not provide any additional information and avoid prolonging the conversation.
We explain the "yes" phone scam in our blog. Learn how to protect yourself from this phone scam and avoid falling victim to this type of scam.
In this digital age, where personal information is more exposed than ever, scammers and cybercriminals have found an opportunity in phone calls to trick unsuspecting people. For example, using the technique of vishing (a combination of "voice" and phishing ) they fraudulently obtain confidential information from users. But in a constant process of innovation, cybercriminals have identified other ways to take advantage of users to obtain their benefits, such as recording their voice.
Phone calls remain a common form of communication and regardless of who is paraguay phone number data calling us (friends, family or strangers), it is common to respond with a simple “yes”. However, few of us are aware of the hidden risks that can arise from giving such a seemingly harmless response.
The simple act of saying “yes” can become a gateway to a host of problems. By recording our voice, scammers can use it to authorize financial transactions, contracts, or even falsify our identity. Furthermore, voice recordings can also be manipulated and used as evidence in situations that could put our reputation at risk.
Below we explain step by step the process that this type of fraud usually follows:
Step 1: The initial call
The victim receives a phone call from a scammer who pretends to be a representative from a bank, sales department, customer service, support or other. The scammer may use social engineering techniques to build trust, such as mentioning basic personal information about the victim or referring to a supposed recent transaction. It may also be the case that the victim is called and when the victim says “yes”, no one answers. In the latter case, obviously no conversation takes place between the sender and the recipient.
Step 2: Establish dialogue and ask questions
The scammer will start a conversation with the victim and may ask seemingly innocuous questions to elicit “yes” responses. These questions could include phrases such as “Are you authorizing transactions at this time?” or “Are you okay with receiving updates from our services?” It is common for the cybercriminal to remain silent, waiting for an affirmative response from the victim, and then hang up within a few seconds without providing a response.
Step 3: Recording the "yes" response
As we have already mentioned above, the scammer waits patiently for the victim to answer "yes" to one of the questions, while recording everything with some application.
Step 4: Using Voice Recording
With the voice recording in their possession, the scammer will try to use it to sign up for a banking service in the victim's name, conduct a survey in their name, etc. They can do this by calling the financial institution or service provider and providing the voice recording as supposed confirmation of identity.
Step 5: Victim detection and action
When the victim detects that his or her identity is being used without his or her consent, either because he or she is contacted directly by a service, because he or she is identified online or by any other means, he or she must take immediate measures to resolve the problem. Below we explain how to do this in more detail.
What should I do if I have been a victim?
When you find yourself in a situation where you have said “yes” to a phone call and you suspect it might be a scam attempt, it is important to act quickly. Here are some steps you can take:
Stay calm: It's understandable to feel worried or scared, but try to stay calm and think clearly. Making rational decisions will help you deal with the situation more effectively.
Hang up the call: If you suspect the call is fraudulent or you are uncomfortable with the situation, simply hang up. Do not provide any additional information and avoid prolonging the conversation.