BBB gets nearly 3,000 complaints about 'Can you hear me?' phone scam

People in Western Pennsylvania and across the country have been receiving confusing phone calls for weeks.

"This woman answers, (and) she's like, ‘Uh, hello. Can you hear me?' And I was like, 'I can hear you,’ and she says, 'Hold on a sec, I seem to have dropped my earpiece,'” said Barry Rider, who received such a call.

In Rider's case, the woman stayed on the line. He said he could hear her fumbling around before she asked if he was still there, and he responded, "Yeah, I'm still here.”

That word, "Yeah,” is the key to the new scheme. It's being called the "Can you hear me now" scam, and in just two weeks the Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania said it’s fielded more than 2,700 complaints.

When you say "yes" or "yeah," the person on the other end is recording you and can use that recording to authorize purchases or try to prove that you agreed to something.

"They could call you back at a later date, or bill you, send you an invoice for products or services," said Caitlin Driscoll of the Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania.

The Better Business Bureau said the other problem is that the scam is so new, officials still don't know exactly how much damage can be done, or how exactly the scammers will use your information. Officials said the best way to protect yourself is never to answer a phone call from a number you don't recognize. If you do answer, stay quiet and hang up if things don't sound legitimate.

Cox Media Group