Beware of this phone scam that could cost you money just by saying 'Yes'

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WEBVTT SCAM ARTISTS ARE ALWAYSPREPARED TO TURN WHATEVERINFORMATION THEY GET INTO AQUICK PROFIT.REPORTER: AND NOW IT SEEMS ONESIMPLE WORD COULD MAKE THEMMONEY AND CAUSE YOU LOTS OFTROUBLE.IT ALL STARTS WITH A PHONE CALL.>> HI THIS IS JOSH FROM THECUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT CANYOU HEAR ME OK?>> THEY ARE ASKING A DIRECTEDQUESTION TO YOU TO SAY YES.THAT IS THE POINT OF THIS SCAMIS TO GET YOU TO SAY YES.REPORTER: AND ONCE YOU SAY YESTHE ANSWER IS RECORDED.>> IT IS VERY INSTINCTIVE IT'SOF A SAYS HI, IS IS BARRY SIMMS?YOU ARE GOING TO SAY YES.IT DOES NOT GET THAT IT DOES NOTTAKE MUCH TO GET THAT YES.REPORTER: AND CALLING THE NUMBERBACK YOU CAN'T REACH ANYONE.SEVERAL MARYLANDERS TELL 11 NEWSIT HAPPENED TO THEM THE BETTERBUSINESS BUREAU HAS RECEIVEDCOMPLAINTS NATIONWIDE.THE CONCERNS OF THOSE WHO HAVERECEIVED THESE CALLS SOMEONECALLING AGAIN USING RECORDEDINFORMATION AS PROOF THEY AGREEDTO PAY FOR GOODS AND SERVICES.WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU COLLECTTHIS?>> HANGUP.>> HE SAID CAN YOU HEAR MECLEARLY?AND I JUST HUNG UP.I DID NOT SAY ANOTHER WORD.>> DON'T ANSWER A CALL WHERE YOUDON'T RECOGNIZE THE NUMBER,PARTICULARLY IF IT IS NOT LOCAL.HANG UP OR DON'T ANSWER.REPORTER: WHILE MANY HAVECOMPLAINED TO THE BETTERBUSINESS BUREAU THE AGENCY ISTELLING PEOPLE TO ALSO FILECOMPLAINTS WITH THE FEDERALTRADE COMMISSION.AND THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVEDTHESE CALLS SHOULD CHECK THEIRCREDIT CARD AND BANK STATEMENTSFOR ANY DISCREPENCIES.AND MONITOR THOSE ACCOUNTS MOREFREQUENTLY.REPORTING LIVE FROM THE

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A seemingly innocent question is part of the latest phone scam that could cost you a lot of money. The questions are straight-forward. It is your answer the scammers want to record. "Scam artists are always prepared to turn whatever information they get into a quick profit," said Angie Barnett, president of the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland. It seems one simple word could make them money and cause you lots of trouble. It all starts with a phone call: "Hi, this is Josh from the customer service department. Can you hear me OK?" "They are asking a pointed question to get you to say 'yes.' That is the point of the scam, to get you to say 'yes,'" Barnett said. And once you say "yes," the answer is recorded. "It's very instinctive. If somebody calls and says, 'Hi, is this Barry Simms?' You're going to say, 'Yes.' So it doesn't take much for a scam artist to get that recorded 'yes.' How you know it's a scam is they disconnect the call," Barnett said. And you can't reach anyone when you call the number back. Several Marylanders told 11 News it happened to them. The BBB has received complaints nationwide. There are concerns that the scammers use the recorded affirmation (your saying "yes") as proof that you agreed to pay for goods and services. So what do you do if you get a call like this? "Hang up," Barnett said. "Don't answer a call where you don't recognize the number. If it's not local and appears to be someone you don't know, don't answer. Hang up, or don't answer." While many have complained to the BBB, the agency is telling people to also file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission. And people who have received the calls should check credit card and bank statements for any discrepancies, and monitor those accounts more frequently.