The One Question You Should Never Answer When a Stranger Calls You

It was a typical Tuesday afternoon. My phone buzzed with an unknown number. I answered, half-expecting a delivery notification.

“Hello, this is Rachel from Cardholder Services,” a cheerful voice began. “I’m calling about your credit card account. To verify your identity, can you please tell me if your number ends in 8174?”

Without thinking, I said, “Yes.”

It was a tiny, seemingly harmless confirmation. But in that single word, I had just given a stranger a powerful piece of information. The call that followed became more aggressive, more personal, and more frightening. I had unknowingly stepped onto a scammer’s hook.

That day, I learned a critical lesson about phone safety that I now share with everyone: There is one question you should never, ever answer for a stranger on the phone.

It’s not “What’s your credit card number?”—nobody falls for that. It’s a much more innocent-sounding question, designed to lull you into a false sense of security.

The question you must never answer is: “Can you hear me?” or any of its variations.

Why This Specific Question is So Dangerous

This isn’t just a random query. It’s the cornerstone of a sophisticated and increasingly common scam known as the “Yes Scam” or “Can you hear me?” scam. Here’s how it works:

1. The Bait: A scammer, often using a robocaller, calls your number. When you answer, a recorded or live voice says, “Hello? Can you hear me okay?” or “Are you there?” It feels like a normal, glitchy start to a call.

2. The Trap: You, trying to be polite and helpful, respond with a simple “Yes.”

3. The Theft: The scammer records your “Yes” response.

4. The Fraud: The scammer now has a voice recording of you affirming a question. They use this recording to commit fraud by authorizing charges on a phone or utility bill, signing you up for a fake subscription service, or even as “verification” in other identity theft schemes. When the company challenges them, they can produce a recording of you saying “yes.”

The genius—and the horror—of this scam is its simplicity. You aren’t giving away a password or a Social Security number. You’re just saying a word you use a dozen times a day. But in the wrong hands, that one word becomes a weapon.

Other “Verification” Questions to Immediately Reject

While “Can you hear me?” is the most notorious, the same principle applies to any question from an unknown caller designed to get you to verify your own information. Never confirm the following for a stranger who called you:

• “Does your phone number end in [last four digits]?” (This is the one I fell for. They use it to build a database of active, responsive numbers to sell to other scammers.)

• “Is your name [Your Name]?” (They might have gotten it from a data leak. Confirming it gives them power.)

• “Do you live at [Your Address]?”

• “Are you the homeowner?”

A legitimate institution that calls you already has this information. They will not ask you to verify the very data they should have on file. Their security protocol is to have you provide information that only you should know, not the other way around.

What to Do Instead: Your 3-Step Defense Plan

So, if you can’t say “yes,” what should you do when a stranger calls and asks this question?

Step 1: Do Not Engage. Do Not Confirm.
Your first and best line of defense is silence or deflection. Do not answer the question directly.

• You can ask a question in return: “Who are you calling for?” or “What company are you with?”

• If it’s a robocall, just hang up immediately.

Step 2: Take Control of the Conversation
If it’s a live person, put the burden of verification on them.

• Say: “I do not confirm information for calls I did not initiate. Please tell me the purpose of your call.”

• A legitimate caller from your bank or a company you do business with will understand this completely and will have other, safer ways to verify your identity.

Step 3: When in Doubt, Hang Up and Call Back
This is the golden rule of phone security.

• If the caller claims to be from your bank, your utility company, or any other service you use, thank them for the call.

• Hang up.

• Find the official customer service number on your card, bill, or the company’s official website.

• Call that number yourself. This ensures you are speaking to the real company and can safely provide any verification details they need.

The Bottom Line: Trust Your Instincts

That feeling in your gut—the slight unease when a caller’s question feels a little off—is your best defense system. In our polite society, we’re conditioned to be helpful and answer questions. Scammers exploit this very politeness.

Your phone is a portal to your life, your finances, and your identity. You have every right to guard that portal fiercely. The next time an unknown number flashes on your screen and a voice asks, “Can you hear me?” remember: the safest answer is not “yes” or “no.”

It’s silence, followed by the decisive click of you hanging up. Protecting yourself isn’t rude; it’s essential.