You answer a call from an unknown number… and there’s nothing. No voice. No breathing. Just silence. Most people panic and hang up instantly. That’s exactly what scammers expect. Instead, stay quiet for 6–8 seconds before hanging up. It sounds strange — but that silence can protect you. Here’s why. Scam systems use auto-dialers that scan thousands of numbers every hour. They’re not calling to talk. They’re calling to see who answers. The moment you say “Hello?”, your number gets marked as active