Senator Collins Warns of Deceiving, “Can You Hear Me?” or “Say Yes” Scam

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, is warning of a new kind of telephone scam that is being reported to the committee’s Fraud Hotline.

Through this scam, the caller will ask a simple question such as “Are you there?” or “Can you hear me?” in hopes that the recipient of the call will say “Yes.” The scammer records the affirmative answer and then uses that recorded voice to authorize unwanted charges on items like utility bills, phone bills, or even stolen credit cards.

Senator Collins warns, “This scam is particularly deceiving, as it can happen quite quickly and without any acknowledgement that the victim has been scammed. If you receive a call from someone you don’t know asking a question such as “Can you hear me?” you should respond by just hanging up the phone.

In recent weeks, the committee’s Fraud Hotline has received an increasing number of reports from Mainers who are receiving this fraudulent call. If you or a loved one receive a call like this, report it to the Aging Committee’s toll-free Hotline at 1-855-303-9470.