OT
- Thread starter Nittany Ned2
- Start date
Everyone I know or businesses or professionals I deal with, are in my cells phonebook. I dont answer anything without a name attached, especially area codes from California and such. Usually they might call back once, and then give up.
I don't know -- I think it is possible it was a scam, but obviously just saying the word "yes" isn't going to get you in trouble -- you're fine.
It's gotten pretty bad, especially so since I don't have a traditional "home" phone... just my personal cell, which I used to have as both what my friends and family used and also as my cell in my email signature at work. Since, it was also my only number, it was the one that was used to make accounts on Comcast, Geico, MLB.com, my mortgage servicer, my Water Company, really everything... so you can imagine the amount of spam phone calls I was getting. It got so bad, I ended up having to change my cell phone number (this is after continuing to block numbers daily from spam calls... they'd just call on new ones).
Long story short, I changed my cell. I gave it only to my close friends and family, then acquired a Google voice number to use as my "sign up number" and to include as my cell in my email sig... now.. if calls are coming from my google voice, I know to ignore, and if its work related, they'll leave a message. Been a great solution for me.
It's gotten pretty bad, especially so since I don't have a traditional "home" phone... just my personal cell, which I used to have as both what my friends and family used and also as my cell in my email signature at work. Since, it was also my only number, it was the one that was used to make accounts on Comcast, Geico, MLB.com, my mortgage servicer, my Water Company, really everything... so you can imagine the amount of spam phone calls I was getting. It got so bad, I ended up having to change my cell phone number (this is after continuing to block numbers daily from spam calls... they'd just call on new ones).
Long story short, I changed my cell. I gave it only to my close friends and family, then acquired a Google voice number to use as my "sign up number" and to include as my cell in my email sig... now.. if calls are coming from my google voice, I know to ignore, and if its work related, they'll leave a message. Been a great solution for me.
I have heard to never say 'yes' on a phone as the scammers record you and use it to access other accounts. Don't know what to do after they have a yes recorded.
Ask yourself: "What would Mike McQueary do in this situation?" and then do the opposite.
In your case, I would to a reverse look up on his phone number.
Or call him back and ask him who he is ... it is quite possible he has your name/number stored in his phone (maybe he is a plumber who did work for you ...) and really did just hit the wrong Ned.
I had a call a couple of days ago...came in from an area code where I have a huge business opportunity so thought it might be important. So I hit redial and call him back.
Some dude with an Indian accent answers. I state why I am calling and ask who he is and who he represents and he says "My name is Stanley..ahhh..Internal Revenue Service?" (as a question).
I said thanks and hung up.
Some dude with an Indian accent answers. I state why I am calling and ask who he is and who he represents and he says "My name is Stanley..ahhh..Internal Revenue Service?" (as a question).
I said thanks and hung up.
If you are paranoid about It - and I understand why you would be- I would simply keep an eye out on all of your bank and credit card accounts. Perhaps even call up the cc and let them know you might have been scammed, so they can keep an eye out for fraudulent activity.
Hate to say it to the OP but this is correct. Its been all over the news where I live. They record you saying "yes" and then use that "yes" to sign you up for all types of stuff. When you try to argue that you never signed something they then say they have you on recording where they plug in your "yes" so some random thing you've been signed up for. Its becoming a serious problem lately.
eg. Sir, I am just confirming you would like to be signed up for the jelly of the month club for the next 5 years at 59.99 per month, Is that correct? "yes".
Remember, these are scammers so to them it doesn't matter its been altered and only way to truly tell is to have it professional examined and the chance of that is very slim in most cases.
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That's the best thing you can do. Just keep an eye out on your accounts and make sure no more accounts get opened. Id suggest you pull your credit report for free in a few months down the road just to make sure
When an unknown caller asks about you,
use the reply,
Make them identify themselves and their organization to you up front.
Then consider a comment something like:
use the reply,
"Who's calling?"
Make them identify themselves and their organization to you up front.
Then consider a comment something like:
"What do you want?"
or "Why are you calling?"
or "Why are you calling?"
I'm not sold on this whole "can you hear me?" scam. It seems like a bit of a urban legend to me. First of all, why would they need to record your voice? A guy can just say yes and pretend they are you. I mean, are you going to have voice analysis done to prove it wasn't you who ordered something?
Plus, if a charge shows up on your credit card for something you didn't order, you can just call your credit card company and they will reverse the charge.
I really don't see what a recording of you saying "yes" does for a scammer.
Don't recall which one, but iirc one of my financial institutions recently announced they were adding voice recognition as part of their security operations.
You make a good point, asking about how a recorded voice could be used against a person.
Seems like the old cold war arms race.
One side would build a defense.
The other side would build a counter.
That sort of thing.
Whichever side had the advantage had the edge. But, it was constantly a battle to stay ahead.
We are experiencing that sort of thing with software, telecom and internet commerce.
They record your voice, then the next thing you know, Nittany Ned2 has "agreed" to the premium membership upgrade on Rivals.com.
I think this is just a wrong number. "Is this Ned?" would be a weird intro for a scam. I've been getting home VM's from a creepy sounding guy who says simply "Hello...are you there?" - same voice, same cadence and inflection each time, obviously a recording. Freaks out the kids.
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