Why You Should No Longer Say “hello” During A Silent Call

A new phone scam is wreaking havoc. It begins with a silent call, during which a simple “hello” can put you and everyone close to you in danger. Explanations.

The scam uncovered by Bitdefender researchers begins with a phone call. When you pick up the phone, there is no one on the line. Nobody speaks and nothing happens. If you multiply the “hellos” and “is anyone there?” “, the communication is cut off.

“If you stay silent, the caller stays silent too. However, if you say anything, the call ends abruptly”explains Bitdefender in its report, emphasizing that “people around the world have reported receiving calls where no one is speaking” during “last year”.

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A response that paints a target on your back

At first glance, a silent call is harmless. As the researchers explain, this exchange of just a few seconds is enough for fraudsters to get exactly what they were looking for, namely confirmation that your number is correctly assigned to a real person. The hackers now know that the phone number is active. They now put you in the category of potential victims. This information can already be resold on the dark web, against cryptocurrencies.

Once your number has been confirmed to be valid, hackers could make you their next target. Bitdefender report highlights risks “voice phishing attacks, SMS scams or AI voice cloning attacks”. As part of a voice phishing attack, scammers will pretend to be a bank, an administration or a relative in order to extract confidential information or money. As you have been “marked as active, you will likely receive follow-up calls”notes Bitdefender. Furthermore, your number may be found in the SMS scam mailing list diverse and varied. We are thinking in particular of parcel delivery scams, which are clearly increasing in France.

A cloned voice

The danger doesn’t stop there. By answering the phone, you give hackers the opportunity to clone your voice and make a deepfake of it. If you say a few words, even a simple and banal “hello”, you are offering your voice on a silver platter to cybercriminals. Your voice may be recorded for “create AI-powered voice samples”. With artificial intelligence tools available online, it only takes a few seconds to design a fake copy of your voice.

These voice clones can then be used to contact your loved ones, impersonate you and request money urgently. Scammers can use the excuse of an accident, a bank card problem, or any problem to convince your family or friends to pay money. The few words you said when answering the phone can be used weeks or months later.

Also read: AI fake package scam – a wave of scams hits France

Phone numbers that can be spoofed

Many people think they can protect themselves by only answering phone numbers they recognize. This precaution is not enough to protect against cybercriminals. Indeed, “not all calls necessarily come from unknown or hidden numbers”. Hackers can show any phone number on the screen of your smartphone using “spoofing” techniques. This tactic relies on dedicated software, designed to tamper with the display number. In other words, even if your phone displays the logo of your banking institution, this absolutely does not prove that it is your bank that is calling you.

How to protect yourself against silent calls?

Faced with the increase in silent phone calls from scammers, it is imperative adopt some good habits. First, get into the habit of letting your interlocutor say the first sentence. If you answer and no one answers, hang up without saying a word. Don’t ask who’s calling or yell “Hello?” » a second time. In particular, avoid saying “yes” or confirming your name to the person you are talking to. Some frauds particularly record this type of response to fabricate fictitious proof of your consent to a contract or paid service. In short, you risk finding yourself subscribed to overpriced services without knowing it.

Furthermore, it is important to block the number. Never call it back, because you might get a premium line that charges you for every second you listen. Finally, stay alert in the weeks or even months that follow if you responded to a silent call. Scammers don’t always strike right after the call. Your number may be circulating for a long time before a fake bank advisor or alleged parcel delivery person contacts you.