CyberWyoming is an organization that works to keep residents apprised of tricks and scams that are committed against Wyoming citizens online, via e-mail or over the phone. One of the latest comes from a Loveland, Colorado resident and it plays on an all-too-human reaction to a basic question. Can you hear me?
A Loveland (CO) citizen received a phone call, and the first thing the scammer asked was “can you hear me?” After the citizen said yes, the next thing they asked was whether his name was <redacted>, and he said yes. At this point he hung up, but it was too late. Since 2017, the Federal Trade Commission and other scam-alerting organizations have been warning about the “Can You Hear Me?” scams. Scammers try to get the caller to say “yes” during the call, and they will later use a recording of that answer to authorize unwanted charges on the victim’s accounts. If you have already responded to this type of call, review all your statements such as from your bank, credit card lender, and telephone company for unauthorized charges. Anyone who believes they have been targeted by this scam should immediately report the incident to the FTC Report FraudCenter https://reportfraud.
More tips, resources and tools from CyberWyoming:
Don’t Seek Revenge Against Scammers: Even telling scammers that you know what they are doing or giving them a piece of your mind can backfire. Remember – if they have called you, they have your phone number. In some cases, they will punish you with thousands of robocalls (recorded calls). The best thing to do is hang up. Brought to you by Scambusters https://
MS-ISAC and CISA Patch Now Ale
Data Breaches in the News: MSI
Please report scams you may ex
Other ways to report a scam:
- Better Business Bureau Scam Tr
acker: www.bbb.org/ scamtracker/us/reportscam
- Wyoming Attorney General’s Off
ice, Consumer Protection 307- 777-6397, 800-438-5799 or ag. consumer@wyo.gov - File a complaint with the Fede
ral Trade Commission at https: //reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/ - Report your scam to the FBI at
https://www.ic3.gov/Home/ FileComplaint - Reported unwanted calls to the
Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call Registration. Online at https://www.donotcall.gov/ report.html or call 1-888-382- 1222, option 3 - Office of the Inspector Genera
l: https://oig.ssa.gov/
- AARP Fraud Watch Network (any
age welcome) Helpline 877-908- 3360 - IRS: report email scams impers
onating the IRS to phishing@ irs.gov - Call the Wyoming Senior Medica
re Patrol (SMP) for assistance with potential Medicare fraud , abuse, or errors at 1 800 85 6-4398
Victim Support: The AARP Fraud
