The one word you should never say to a telemarketer or scam caller
You might get dozens of spam calls weekly, but you might not know where the companies got your number. Thousands of data brokers peddle information, and it could be the source of your annoyance. That’s why we started our Opt-Out Tuesday series with instructions on removing data from sites like FreePhoneTracer. Tap or click here for details.
The best thing to do is avoid answering your phone when the caller ID shows something strange. But if you answer a spam call, there is one word you should never say to a telemarketer or scam caller.
Read on for a simple way to protect yourself by not saying the wrong thing.
Here’s the backstory
Your phone number is most likely on a list if you have ever received a spam call. Whether you entered it for access to a website, wrote it down in an attendance register or used it for a competition, it’s in the hands of data brokers.
Other companies then purchase contact information lists to target with telemarketing or robocalls. Unfortunately, scammers can also find your phone number through public information and people search sites, leading to an increase in spam or scam calls.
Scammers aren’t positive that your phone number is active before making the initial call. That’s why not answering unsolicited calls from unknown numbers is a key to staying protected. As soon as you answer a call from an unknown number, the caller knows your line is active, which could lead to more calls.
Never say this word during a spam call
But sometimes, you might get a call appearing to be from a legitimate company or agency. Unfortunately, that can also be a problem. Scammers are getting better at spoofing phone numbers to make them seem like authentic calls.
So, what do you do if you answer the call and it’s a telemarketer or spam call? The best move is to hang up quickly. But there is one word you should never say, and that word is Yes. Even if the caller asks if they are speaking to the correct person, don’t say it.
Another trick scammers use is playing a recording of someone asking if you can hear them. Don’t fall for it. It seems dramatic, but there is a good reason.
Many banks use voice verification tools to authenticate calls from customers. If a scammer has a recording of you saying the word yes, they can use it to fool your bank and rip you off. So do not engage with an unknown caller by answering yes to any of their questions.
Here's what adding your number to the National Do Not Call Registry does
Most people don’t even reach for their phone when caller ID doesn’t identify the caller. When it says unknown caller or private, there is a good chance it’s a robocall or a telemarketer. Tap or click here to see the top five scam calls and what you can do to get them to finally stop.
Top 5 scam calls and what you can do to get them to finally stop
Most people have an extensive contact list saved on their mobile phones. So, when a call comes through from an unknown number, it usually arouses suspicion. Unfortunately, it is more than likely a robocall or scammer.
Scam Alert: Robocalls trick victims with fake COVID-19 tests
As the omicron variant of COVID-19 continues its spread across the country, the number of infections is increasing. Naturally, that leads to more people wanting to be tested.
Testing is available at a number of health facilities and pharmacy chains, and you can even opt to buy testing kits that can be shipped to your home. Have you purchased an at-home test? Tap or click here for details on millions that have been recalled.
Watch out! Spoofed Apple phone call is making the rounds again
The COVID pandemic has opened a whole new world of opportunity for scammers. The dregs of society are using people’s fears of the virus against them and creating devious schemes to rip them off.
Phishing emails, text messages and phone calls pretending to be from health organizations or officials are all too common these days. Tap or click here for a recent example of scam calls targeting seniors.
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Google held its Pixel 3 event yesterday and the company announced a slew of new products — the new Pixel 3 phones, the Pixel Stand, the Google Home Hub, and the Pixel Slate. But it wasn’t all about the hardware. The event’s focus on the synergy between AI, hardware and software produced plenty of software surprises! Some of these features are so innovative and fresh that it will be inevitable that Apple and Samsung will follow suit. The tech industry is a copycat world, after all.