Why You Should Never Say "Yes" to an Unknown Caller
A tech expert has warned that phone scammers are getting smarter and far more sophisticated. By weaponizing artificial intelligence to record and clone your voice, fraudsters are finding new ways to bypass security measures. If you receive a call from an unknown number, there are three specific questions you should absolutely never answer with a simple 'yes'.
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The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is allowing scam telephone calls to become incredibly deceptive. Tech expert Hector Chavez recently issued a critical alert, recommending that users immediately stop saying "Yes" to unknown callers.
"Scammers are getting smarter," Chavez stated. "They're starting calls with simple questions like, 'Can you hear me?', 'Are you the homeowner?' and 'Do you have a moment to talk?'"
These three questions are meticulously crafted to catch the call recipient off guard, solely for the purpose of capturing an audio recording of their voice responding with the word 'Yes'.
"This recording can then be used to authorise fraudulent charges or trick voice-based systems into thinking that it's you - and with AI improving so fast, this might get worse," Chavez explained.
How to Protect Yourself
So, how can we avoid falling victim to these high-tech fraudsters? The best defense is altering your immediate response.
"Instead of saying 'yes' to their first question, start by asking, 'Who is calling?' or 'What is this about?'" Chavez recommends. "It's not rude - it's about being smart."
He further highlighted that if the caller dodges your question, if there is a weird, unnatural pause, or if something simply feels off, you should immediately hang up the phone.
Other effective strategies shared by tech-savvy users include:
The Silent Treatment: Answering the phone but remaining completely silent. A real human will assume there is a connection issue and say "hello," while an automated bot will simply hang up.
Alternative Greetings: Answering with a phrase like, "Can I help you?" This often confuses automated systems, causing them to terminate the call.
Send to Voicemail: Simply letting unrecognized numbers go to voicemail. If it is genuinely important, the caller will leave a message.
Age UK's Additional Warning
Earlier this year, the charity Age UK also warned the public that scammers are increasingly cloning bank representatives and official bodies to entice victims into making unwise purchases or investments.
Beyond voice cloning, Age UK noted a critical technical vulnerability to be aware of: "Be aware that scammers can keep your phone line open even after you've hung up."
If you suspect you have been targeted by a scammer and need to make a verification call to your bank or a loved one, Age UK advises using a different phone, or waiting at least 10 to 15 minutes between calls to ensure the scammers have fully disconnected from your line.