Full Notification

Beware of the “Can you hear me?” scam. If this sounds familiar it is because this is a question all mobile phone owners have asked, or answered, at some point. There are many different variations of the scam, but all of them are counting on you to say, “Yes.” Scammers are using robocalls to get victims recorded saying “yes” to set them up with proof that the victim agreed or signed up for a good or service. This, along with other information gathered by the scammer, is used to charge the victim’s credit cards or bank accounts. If the scammers do not have any banking information, they may try to harass and/or intimidate victims into paying for fraudulent charges.

The Shipshewana Police Department has received reports of different variations used in the area. These include: scammers who start by verifying information about a business such as; address and phone number, which lead to the question, “Are you in Indiana?” In some cases, the scammers became frustrated in such calls when the intended victim responded to all the questions without saying “yes.” Others recently reported calls received in the early morning hours in which the caller asks the victim if they would like to win a vacation, or if the home owner is in the house.

So, what can you do to protect yourself? For starters, do not answer calls from unknown sources. Scammers use software to mask or disguise the origin of the call such as the use of voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or simple mobile applications. Never give out any personal information over the phone or internet. Some scammers will claim to be with a credit card company or bank who are calling to verify your account information. If this is the case, hang up and call your bank or credit card number using the telephone numbers on the back of your card and not the numbers from your caller ID, mail, or email. You should also keep a close eye on your credit report and monitor your credit card and bank account statements for any unauthorized charges.

If you believe you are the victim of a telephone scam, Shipshewana residents can contact the Shipshewana Police Department at 260-768-4310. County residents can contact the LaGrange County Sheriff’s Department at 260-463-0200.