HomeMy WebLinkAboutNR4-7-17KPD
C O U NT Y O F KAU A‘I
BERNARD P. CARVALHO JR.
Mayor
WALLACE G. REZENTES JR.
Managing Director
KAUA‘I POLICE DEPARTMENT
News Release
For Immediate Release: April 7, 2017
DARRYL PERRY, CHIEF
Tel (808) 241-1600
Fax (808) 241-1604
KPD warns of phone scam known as the
“Can you hear me?” or “Yes” scam
LĪHU'E – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a warning to
consumers about an emerging scam known as the "Can you hear me?" phone scam, which can
make an unsuspecting person a victim by saying one simple word: "Yes."
According to the FCC, the scam begins when a consumer answers a call and the person
on the line asks, “Can you hear me?” The caller then records the consumer's "Yes" response
and thus obtains a voice signature. That voice signature can later be used by the scammers to
impersonate the consumer and authorize fraudulent charges via telephone.
While there have been no reports of this scam occurring on Kaua‘i, the public is advised
to always be on alert for telephone scams and take preventive measures to avoid becoming a
scam victim.
Kauai Police Department recommends the following tips:
Do not answer or return calls from unknown numbers.
Immediately hang up on any unsolicited calls, especially if the caller instructs you to
press a button for any type of service.
Avoid responding with "yes," "sure," or "ok" and never give out any personal
information.
If you receive a scam call, write down the number and file a complaint with the Federal
Communications Commission at https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov or the Better
Business Bureau Scam Tracker at https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us. Then call the
Kaua‘i Police Department at 241-1711.
For more consumer tips and advice, visit the Federal Trade Commission website at
www.consumer.ftc.gov.
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