IF you’ve had a call from an unknown person who asked ‘can you hear me’, you might have been the victim of a new scam.

Residents in Wiltshire have been warned about a new scam that is thought to be hitting the UK after doing the rounds in the US.

The scam involves someone asking the call recipient ‘can you hear me’, eliciting the answer ‘yes’.

The scammer then records the victim saying ‘yes’, which is then edited to make it sound like the person has authorised a major purchase.

This acts as a verbal contract, just like clicking ‘I agree’ on a computer.

It is called a voice signature and is used legitimately by companies to show when someone has agreed to something.

CPR Call Blocker, makers of call blocking devices in the US and UK, has seen this scam rise in frequency in the United States.

Kris Hicks of CPR Call Blocker is urging the public in Wiltshire to simply put the phone down to unsolicited callers who pose that question.

He said: “Victims in the US have received a phone call from a familiar local area code and the other person on the other end of the line introduces themselves and their business.

“I know that people think it’s impolite to hang up, but it’s a good strategy. If you don’t recognise the number, don't answer.

“In our experience of working across the US and UK, scams spread quickly across the pond so it is sensible for people in Wiltshire to be on their guard as we have no doubt that fraudsters operating in the UK will soon start using these tactics.”

If anyone receives such a call, they are urged to contact Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040.