If you receive an unusual call with a voice saying the word “goodbye,” here’s why you should stay on guard over the next few days.
Cold calling puts our nerves to the test. Despite our vigilance and our habit of filtering calls, it is becoming more and more difficult to slip through the cracks as techniques evolve. Among them, a particularly strange and confusing scenario has been multiplying recently. This is what Emily tells us: “the phone rang, I answered ‘Hello’, then there was a gap, a silence for a few seconds. Then, a robotic voice simply said ‘Goodbye’ before hanging up”, the young woman tells us. So, what is behind this unusual call?
In an ideal world, the best reaction would be to never answer unknown numbers, but curiosity or the expectation of an important call often causes us to reflexively pick up. Unfortunately, if you’ve picked up and heard that famous “Goodbye”, it’s technically already too late to turn back. This voicemail message is not a bad joke, but a serious indicator that your number is now actively circulating in scammers’ databases. If the call itself did not cost you anything, it should act as a warning signal: you must be extra vigilant in the days and weeks to come.
What is hidden behind this silent phone call is in reality an automated sorting operation. Scammers use software to dial thousands of numbers randomly or from stolen lists, with the sole aim of verifying which ones are actually assigned. By picking up the phone and speaking, you involuntarily send a “positive signal” to the software: you confirm that the line is active and that there is indeed a human on the line who can answer. Your number then gains value: it is qualified as “verified” and will be resold or exchanged between different malicious groups to target you later with much more sophisticated scams (CPF, fake banks, parcel scams, etc.).
Faced with this invisible threat, the golden rule remains absolute caution. If you receive this type of call, do not try to call the number back, this will only further confirm your availability. The first instinct should be to immediately block the caller via your smartphone settings. In the future, favor filtering: let numbers you don’t know ring. Remember that if the call is important or if it is a real emergency, your interlocutor will systematically leave a voice message. Finally, be wary of future calls you receive, even if they appear to come from official institutions, because you are now identified as a potential target.
