‘Can You Hear Me?’ — The Latest Scam Designed to Rip You Off [VIDEO]

"Can you hear me?" We say it all the time, and we're constantly being asked. And intuitively, our answer is most always "Yes." But those three little letters can make you a victim.

"Yes." That one-word response is all scammers need to approve charges for goods and services you didn't agree to buy, or to authorize charges on a stolen credit card. Your affirmative answer can easily be edited to follow a question such as, "Do you approve these charges?"

But how can con artists charge you if you don't provide your credit card information? CBS reports that since fraudsters may be able to use your phone number, because phone providers often pass through third-party charges. Criminals may also have been able to get your credit card information from a cable or utility bill, due to a data breach.

Reports say this type of fraudulent activity has been reported in Florida and Pennsylvania, but could easily strike unsuspecting victims anywhere.

What can you do? First, watch for suspicious charges on your credit card, phone, cable, and other bills. Then, be aware of calls from unfamiliar numbers. Let them go to voicemail. And if you do speak with an unsolicited caller, be careful when answering questions that could elicit a positive response. Not only can "Can you hear me?" be used, but scammers may also ask seemingly innocent questions such as, "Are you the homeowner?" or "Are you the person responsible for paying the phone bill?"