January 25, 2026, 9:13 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Fraudsters call your smartphone or landline and lie in wait. A TECHBOOK editor has received such a call himself. He reveals how the scam works, how expensive it can be for you, and, above all, how you can protect yourself.
The next time your phone rings with an unknown number, it’s wise to be immediately skeptical. Again and again, scammers use a nasty trick that has spilled over from the USA to Europe, and therefore also Germany, and is almost impossible to see through in advance. TECHBOOK reveals the tactics scammers use on the phone and how you can protect yourself.
Overview
The Scam of the Fraudsters is Almost Impossible to See Through
With questions such as “Can you hear me?” or “Are you the homeowner?”, the caller tries to elicit the word “yes” from you, as the NRW consumer advice center reports, and we in the editorial team have also discovered. These and other parts of the conversation are later edited together by the fraudsters to give the impression that the caller has placed an expensive order over the phone.
Our editor also received a call like this. The number was from Brussels. The call only lasted a few seconds. He can’t remember exactly what he said. But when he googled the number, it quickly became clear what it was about.
In our case, our editor hasn’t heard anything since and hopes he hasn’t been taken in by anyone. But not everyone is so lucky. Because other users reported the following:
Often, a few days later, a nasty surprise arrives in the mailbox: an expensive bill. Those who refuse to pay are quickly pressured by the fraudsters, who insist on the doctored phone recording with a clear “yes” to a supposed purchase agreement, even threatening with a negative credit report or debt collection action. One reader of the online portal “Heise” was even called back immediately after he refused to answer “yes” and hung up. He was threatened with a fine of 125 euros for interrupting the call.
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How Should I Behave on the Phone?
Always be skeptical of unknown callers and avoid answering “yes”, even to supposedly harmless questions. If the conversation feels off, it’s okay to simply hang up. If you still fall victim to such a scam, don’t panic!
The consumer advice center recommends responding with “I can hear you” instead of a simple “Yes” to questions like “Can you hear me?” Lawyer Christian Solmecke also emphasizes: “Contracts can normally also be concluded over the phone. However, the alleged seller must prove that the contract has been concluded. To do this, he must have made you a concrete offer over the phone. However, this is not the case here. In this context, you should not be confused by a simulated telephone recording.”
According to Solmecke, such a recording can generally only be used if the person called has agreed to it beforehand. So don’t let yourself be put under pressure and never pay the amount stated on the bill. If in doubt, contact the consumer advice center, a lawyer, or the police—because in this case, the fraudster on the phone could also face criminal charges.
Contract Effective Without a Signature?
While it may seem odd, a contract made over the phone is legally binding, even without a written follow-up. To terminate such a contract, however, the written form is again required. This is precisely what consumer protection organizations have been complaining about for years. They demand that contracts concluded over the phone only become valid once they have been signed. This would give consumers time to think and prevent them from being taken by surprise during the call. Unfortunately, politicians have not yet been able to agree on such a generally applicable regulation.