The Daily Money: 'Can you hear me?' Hang up.
Good morning and Happy Friday! This is Betty Lin-Fisher with Friday's consumer-focused The Daily Money.
If you get a phone call and someone on the other end of the line is saying, "Can you hear me?" stay quiet and hang up the phone. It could be a scam trying to record your voice.
With developments in artificial intelligence and the fact that scammers are always looking for ways to get information from you to combine with other information they may already have from data breaches or information on the Dark Web, consumer advocates such as the Better Business Bureau are reminding people to be proactive.
While it seems innocent to say "yes" when someone asks you whether you can hear them, there is the worry that scammers could use your voice to authorize a purchase without your consent.
Read my story for some more information and tips. Also, while we're talking about annoying calls from random numbers, I usually don't even answer them. If I do pick up, I hang up on the calls that seem to be silent when I answer, and then I hear a bloop sound, and someone starts talking. That's a sure-fire sign to me that it's a telemarketing call or something I don't need.
Tax Day: April 15 is on Monday
The clock is ticking if you haven't finished your taxes.
April 15 is Monday, and for the vast majority of Americans, it's the last day to file a tax return with the IRS. If you don't expect to meet the April 15 deadline, you can request a six-month extension before Tax Day to avoid any penalties and interest.
My USA TODAY colleagues have been busy providing readers with a lot of helpful stories for tax season. Here's two that were published today:
- What triggers an IRS audit?
- Are you a newlywed? Should you file separately or jointly?
Check out this link for full USAT TODAY tax coverage.
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- Here are 7 ways to update your old tech devices.
- The Verizon Wireless class action settlement deadline is approaching.
- There's now a first-class charter jet service for your pooch.
- What's the best extended car warranty?
📰 A great read 📰
Finally, here's a popular story from earlier this year that you may have missed. Read it! Share it!
What are the hottest cities for this year's housing market, according to Zillow? An analysis by Zillow called affordability the "most powerful force driving real estate."
Check out the list and the story here.
About The Daily Money
Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer news from USA TODAY. We break down financial news and provide the TLDR version: how decisions by the Federal Reserve, government and companies impact you.