The “Can you hear me” scam is one of the latest of many scams being reported in the Twin Lakes Area recently. The scam in which callers are asking Can you hear me? in order to elicit a yes response from the person on the other line. The scammer will then use the recorded voice for illegal or fraudulent purposes. They use audio editing equipment to create false authorization recordings to make unauthorized purchases on credit cards or add-ons to utility bills. Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge says the scams are occurring throughout the entire state.
There are other questions that may be asked in this type of scam such as, Can you hear me? Are you the lady of the house?, Are you the homeowner?, Is this (then the caller repeats your phone number)?, or Do you pay the household telephone bills?, all hoping for the same result a yes answer that can be recorded for further use.
Other scams are recurring as well, according to Baxter County Sheriff Department’s Captain Jeff Lewis.
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Lewis says one of the most recent scams the department has seen was an incident in which a Mountain Home man received a call saying his son had been arrested and needed immediate cash. The man couldn’t get in touch with his son. He went to Wal-Mart on two separate occasions and sent moneygram’s in excess of $2,400. Money which he will likely never see again.
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The main purpose, of some of the scams, is to get the victim to send money.
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Rutledge goes on to say using a caller ID is best and to let unknown numbers go to voicemail to avoid talking to unknown callers. Hang up on someone who is suspicious. Bank, credit card statements and utility bills should be closely monitored as well.
In KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot News second part of our series on scams, we’ll hear from Marshella Norell, owner of the local H and R Block, who will elaborate on the IRS scam mentioned by Lewis.
For more information on scams, call the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-482-8982, visit their website at http://arkansasag.gov/ or call the Baxter County Sheriff’s office at 870-425-7000.
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