Everyone keeps saying that, but not one person has been able to describe any type of actual, real life scenario where someone could actually be scammed with nothing more than that single word. Further, not one person has ever been able to provide verifiable proof that someone was actually scammed that way. All they ever do is provide links to news broadcasts that all say "might, maybe, or possibly". Why is that?
If they record your voice on the telephone call. The could use the recording to make "you" agree to something like a contract and then they could potentially get your money because you "agreed" to whatever they were selling or whatever..... It's happened in the past and there are real cases that have been in the news. But that's the risk of saying no. I just don't answer the phone anymore unless I recognize the number/name.
>> It's happened in the past and there are real cases that have been in the news. <<
OK ... give us links to those "Real cases"!
There have been several telephone scams in which the caller tries to elicit a "yes" answer from the called person. Those scams have been around for at least four years.
The good part is ... Snopes states there are NO verified reports of people actually getting charged solely because of their "yes" answer.
http://www.snopes.com/can-you-hear-me-scam/
Do you have any PROOF people have lost money because of the supposed "say yes scam"?
Interesting observation:
Several posters claimed the "say yes" scam caused multiple people to suffer financial loss, but could NOT give us reputable citations or links to prove that contention, and did NOT state how people lose money if they do not give card or bank or specific, critical ID information to the caller!
Want to learn about a REAL scam that has cost victims over $50 million dollars, yet has dozens of daily visitors to this site asking, "is this a scam?" If so, click "A_Real_Scam", below:
A_Real_ScamToo many posters seem to be unaware of the truly dangerous IRS Scam. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) reports many victims who have collectively reported over $55 million in financial losses as a result of tax scams over the last three years. That is a LOT more than the $0.00 loss so far verified for the "say yes" scam! Want proof? Read the info at this link:
https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/press/press_tigta-2017-08.htm
Click on "really", below, to read what might really be happening when you are encouraged to say "yes".
reallyTelephone scammers need to call a LOT of phones in order to find a mark. For them, time is definitely money. They do not want to waste time on a dead line, or talking to somebody who is not interested in their "deal".
So, the modern / professional phone scammer increasingly relies on computer-aided messages. Their computers recognize certain words or phrases, and then reply with an "appropriate" pre-recorded message, to keep the mark interested, and move the scam to the next level, so they can make a quick sale. The mark's answers also cue the computer into determining the mark's interests, so the computer can offer something that is attractive to the mark.
"Yes" is one of the recognized words. The "yes" alone cannot cost the mark money ... the mark must give the scammer the card or ID information, but the scammer will ask for that information somewhere during their spiel.
So, the advice, "hang up if you get such a call" is a good one ... unless you think you can have fun trying to confuse the computer.
There is one exception that MIGHT be true. Click on "Exception", below.
ExceptionHave you heard of telephone "slamming" or "cramming"? Slamming is a procedure that switches one's telephone service from one provider to another. Cramming is a procedure that adds unwanted services to one's phone bill. Sometimes, a mere "yes" to a marginal phone company can "authorize" the change in service. Such unwanted changes are illegal. More info here:
https://www.fcc.gov/general/cramming-0
In any case, be careful about giving strangers your precious financial info!
Visit
http://phonehelp.2truth.com/facts.html
for a quick educational experience.
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Please reply to this post, to let us know you read it, or have taken suitable actions to protect yourself.
I am pretty well versed on actual contract law, and I would say that they would need a lot more than a "yes" to make a contract stick. "It's happened in the past and there are real cases that have been in the news. " and yet not one person has been able to provide such proof. Every news story says "might, maybe, or possibly". Perhaps you would like to be the first to provide such proof? Now, I would suggest that you carefully read the news story before posting it to make sure that the person was actually scammed with nothing more than the word "yes" before posting, otherwise you will look foolish.