The "can you hear me?" call: can they use a recorded "yes" against you?

The "can you hear me?" call: can they use a recorded "yes" against you?

The phone rings, you pick up and a voice asks: "Can you hear me?", "Am I speaking with the account owner?" or "Is this Mrs Adeyemi?". You say "yes" almost automatically and, seconds later, the call drops or continues with a confusing offer. Then the worry sets in: did they record my "yes" to use it against me? It is one of the most forwarded warnings on WhatsApp, and it mixes a real risk with a lot of exaggeration. Here is which part is myth, which part is true and what to do.

What is the "yes" call?

The story that circulates goes like this: a scammer asks a question whose natural answer is "yes", records the word and later presents it as proof that you agreed to a subscription, a charge or a loan. The pattern is usually:

• A short, neutral question as soon as you pick up: "Can you hear me?", "Are you there?", "Are you the line owner?".
• Silence or a hang-up right after your answer, or a recorded voice that keeps talking.
• Sometimes a follow-up offer for a subscription service, insurance, a loan or an "upgrade", where you are asked to confirm details "for the record".

These calls exist and many people receive them. What deserves a calm look is what can actually be done with that "yes".

Is it true they can sign me up with a recorded "yes"?

A lone "yes" is not enough to bind you to anything. This is what matters:

1. A single word is not an agreement. Valid consent needs a clear offer, your identification, a description of what you are agreeing to and your explicit acceptance. A "yes" cut from a question about whether you could hear them proves none of that.
2. A charge needs more than your voice. To debit your account or card, they need your banking details and, in most cases, your authorisation through your bank's own security steps (PIN, OTP, token). A recorded "yes" does not replace those.
3. You can dispute what you did not agree to. If a service or charge appears that you never requested, you can complain to the company, your network or your bank, and escalate to the regulators below.

That is why the alarmist version ("they empty your account with your yes") is mostly a myth. But there are real risks around these calls.

So what is the real risk?

• You confirm your number is active. Many of these calls are automated and just check whether a person answers. A number that picks up gets more marketing calls and more scam attempts.
• Unwanted subscriptions and value-added services. If during the call you press keys or reply to an SMS, you may be subscribed to a paid service that deducts airtime. The danger is not your "yes", it is the actions and details you give afterwards.
• Material to clone your voice. AI tools can imitate a voice from a few seconds of clear audio. One word gives them little, but a long conversation can. Cloned voices are mostly used to fool relatives with the "family member in trouble" scam.
• More elaborate vishing. Sometimes "can you hear me?" is just the opener for a call where someone poses as your bank, your network or a government agency to get your BVN, PIN or OTP.

How should I respond to a suspicious call?

1. Let the caller speak first. You can say "Hello?" or "Who is calling?" and wait for them to identify themselves.
2. Do not confirm personal details. Not your full name, NIN, BVN, address, account or card numbers. A legitimate company calling you already knows who you are.
3. Do not agree to anything by phone. If an offer interests you, ask for it in writing and sign up yourself through official channels.
4. Do not press keys when a recording asks you to.
5. Hang up when in doubt. It is not rude: it is phone hygiene.
6. Verify on your own. If they claim to be your bank or network, hang up and call the official number on your card, in the app or on the company's website.
7. Block and report the number. Reporting it in the spam numbers directory helps others. An app like NoCall can warn you before you pick up.

What if I already answered or gave details?

If you only said "yes" and they hung up, nothing serious has happened. If you gave details or think they could be used:

• Check your airtime balance, bank account and SMS over the coming weeks for unknown deductions, subscriptions or loans.
• If an unwanted subscription appears, unsubscribe and complain to your network. If it does not resolve it, escalate to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on its toll-free 622 line, following the NCC complaint procedure.
• If you gave bank details or passwords, call your bank now on its official number.
• If a business misuses your personal data, you can complain to the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC). For other consumer problems with a company, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) takes complaints.
• If you suspect your voice has been used, tell your family never to send money because of an urgent call "from you" without checking first.
• If there has been fraud, report it to the police, at a station or through the Nigeria Police Force's National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) e-reporting portal. If you are threatened or in danger, call 112.

How do I cut down on these calls?

• Use your network's Do-Not-Disturb (DND) service. You can text STOP to 2442 to block promotional calls and SMS from your network and its partners. It does not stop scammers, but it reduces the noise.
• Do not eagerly answer unknown numbers. If it matters, they will call back or send a message.
• Use a call identification app to see whether a number has been reported before you answer.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to avoid saying "yes" on the phone forever? No. It is a good habit not to answer strangers with an automatic "yes", but an isolated "yes" does not commit you. What really needs protecting is your personal and banking information.

They called, I said "yes" and they hung up. Will they charge me? Very unlikely. To charge you they need your payment details and authorisation. Watch your balance and statements for a few weeks and complain if anything looks odd.

Can they clone my voice from what I said? From one word, it is hard. From several minutes of conversation, more feasible. That is why it pays not to drag out calls with strangers.

Is reporting the number worth it? Yes. These campaigns use the same numbers on thousands of people. Every report helps the next person.

In short

The "can you hear me?" call is real, but the fear that a recorded "yes" will sign you up or empty your account is mostly a myth. The real risk lies in the details you give and the keys you press afterwards. Let them speak first, confirm nothing, sign up for nothing by phone, hang up when in doubt and verify through official channels. And report the number in the NoCall spam numbers directory.