And the biggest phone scam award for 2017 goes to...
This scam will make you more wary about the answers that you give to conversations over the phone.
It was the scam that swept across the world and became more apparent in February when many reports made the rounds of people being conned by fraudsters over the phone.
Unlike other scams, it didn't ask you to give away your pin number or reveal secret information. In this case, all it needed was a simple 'yes' and that was it. The scam is called the 'Can you hear me' scam and it is an alleged phone scam in which fraudsters called you up, asked you the phrase, and record your answer.
Read: How to easily avoid scams
Most of us would answer 'yes', and it was this response that was allegedly recorded and used to authorise purchases and even add charges to your phone account. However, amidst all the controversy, Huffington Post reported that there was no need for alarm bells to ring.
There shouldn't be any way for a simple phrase like this to have the ability to authorise payments and cause billing issues, but these days you never know what is in the mind of con artists.
Although there have been no reported cases of the scam coming to South Africa, I strongly suggest that you pay careful attention to whoever calls you and what questions they ask. And if they do ask you the question 'Can you hear me', maybe think twice before answering.
Also read - Online scams: Spot them before they catch you
Have you been a victim of a phone call scam in 2017? Feel free to share your stories with me in the comments below. Let's make everyone aware of what they need to look out for.