“Can you hear me now?”

No, it’s not a reference to those recognizable Verizon Wireless commercials. Instead, the phrase has become just another way for scammers to try and take advantage of potential victims.

The key in this scam is to try and get potential victims to say the word “yes,” so the affirmation can be recorded and used to authorize unwanted charges on a credit card.

Fraudsters can combine the recording with other information they have gathered from or about you, including credit card information and use the recording against the victim, should they try to dispute the charge.

And the question doesn’t have to be “Can you hear me?” according to consumer watchdogs like the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Scammers could also ask questions like “Are you the homeowner,” “Are you the man/lady of the house,” or other similar questions which could elicit a “yes” answer.

According to a recent report BBB, during the last few days of January, more than half of the reports to the BBB’s scam tracker website were reported to be about this scam. Consumers reported calls about vacation packages, cruises, warranties and other items.

Although scammers once targeted businesses with this purported scam— coercing them to purchase office supplies and directory ads they’d never ordered— they have now allegedly turned their attention to individual consumers, according to Oakland County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Frank Lenz.

Although Lenz stated there have not yet been any related reports filed with the OCSD Oxford Township Substation, there were two reports posted to the BBB scam tracker website from out of the Oxford area code between Jan. 21 and Jan. 31.

“If they don’t recognize the phone number, don’t offer the caller any information,” suggested Lenz. “Don’t even respond if it’s a recording from a company, just go ahead and hang up and you can also block their calls and prevent that phone number from ever calling you again.”

The BBB also recommends screening phone calls and letting calls from unrecognizable numbers go to answering machines – scammers rarely leave messages.

Those who receive scam calls should also make a note of the number and report it to bbb.org/scamtracker, which is shared with government and law enforcement agencies and can help to help warn others.