How many times have you picked up the phone and responded with a “yes” in return? It’s a very typical greeting and one that comes naturally to many of us, almost without thinking. However, scammers have discovered a way to exploit this innocent gesture to commit a new type of telephone fraud.
Through a technique known as “vishing” (a word that combines ‘voice’ and ‘phishing’), scammers deceptively obtain our consent, and the process is so easy it’s frightening.
When we receive a call, it’s common to respond with a “yes.” However, this gesture opens the door for scammers to record our “yes” and use it as a sign of consent. For example, you might be familiar with this situation: you answer a call and respond with a “yes.” However, there’s no response from the other end of the line. It’s likely they’ll hang up instantly.
Another commonly used modus operandi is to ask questions. When the victim answers the call and engages in a conversation with the caller, they may ask tricky questions to elicit a “yes” in response. After recording consent, cybercriminals can impersonate the victim in various situations, such as requesting loans or signing up for strange subscriptions—anything you can imagine.
What should I do if I think I’ve been recorded?
If you believe you’ve been targeted by this type of scam, the most important thing is to stay calm. Verify the number that called you and make sure it’s really who they claim to be. You can do an online search to determine if the number is legitimate or not.
In the worst-case scenario, change the security passwords for your accounts and keep your most important credentials safe. If you want to stay secure at all times, avoid responding with a “yes” to calls from unknown individuals.
