The 'Repeat After Me' Phone Scam: What Small Businesses Need to Know

If you've received a strange call where someone asked you to repeat odd phrases like 'accounting' or 'annual budget range' — you're not alone. Here's what's happening and why you don't need to panic.

If you've received a strange call where someone asked you to repeat odd phrases like 'accounting,' 'annual budget range,' or '6-12 month term' — you're not alone. Here's what's happening and why you don't need to panic.

What's Going On?

We've seen a rise in reports of unusual phone calls to small businesses across Shropshire and beyond. The pattern is consistent: someone calls claiming to be from a supplier, a directory listing service, or a business partner. The conversation seems slightly odd — they read out disconnected phrases and ask you to confirm or repeat them back.

These phrases might sound like fragments of a contract: 'accounting services,' 'annual budget range 10,000 to 25,000,' 'influencer marketing,' '6 to 12 month term.'

If this has happened to you, take a breath. You have not accidentally agreed to anything. These calls do not create any form of binding contract.

How the Scam Actually Works

The goal isn't to trick you into a verbal contract — that's not how contracts work in the UK. Instead, scammers are recording your voice saying specific words and phrases. Later, they splice these recordings together to create fake 'evidence' that you agreed to purchase something.

Here's the typical sequence:

1. The initial call: A scammer phones your business, often claiming to verify details for a directory listing or confirm an existing supplier relationship.

1. The odd questions: They ask you to repeat or confirm phrases that sound vaguely contractual — budget figures, service types, time periods.

1. The fake invoice: Weeks later, your accounts team receives an invoice for a service you never ordered. When challenged, the scammer produces an edited audio clip of 'you' supposedly agreeing to the purchase.

1. The pressure: They threaten legal action, damage to your credit rating, or debt collection. Many businesses pay simply to make the problem go away.

The scam relies on confusion and fear — not legal validity. These fabricated recordings wouldn't stand up in court, but scammers know that most small businesses would rather pay a few hundred pounds than deal with the hassle of fighting back.

Red Flags to Watch For

Train your team to recognise these warning signs:

• Unexpected calls about services you don't remember ordering
• Requests to repeat phrases or confirm specific wording
• Pressure to answer quickly without time to check records
• Vague company names that sound similar to legitimate suppliers
• Callers who won't provide written confirmation of what they're discussing
• Invoices that arrive 'out of the blue' for services with no paper trail

How to Protect Your Business

The good news: protecting yourself is straightforward.

1. Establish a Simple Policy

Make it company policy that no one can agree to any purchase or service over the phone. All orders must be confirmed in writing — by email or purchase order — before they're valid. This gives your team an easy script: 'I'll need to get that in writing before we can proceed.'

2. Train Your Team

Brief everyone who answers phones — receptionists, office managers, accounts staff — about this scam. When people know what to look for, they're far less likely to fall for it.

3. Verify Before You Pay

If an unexpected invoice arrives, don't pay it without investigation. Check your records, contact the supposed supplier through a number you find independently (not one on the invoice), and ask for proof of the original agreement.

4. Don't Engage with Pressure Tactics

Legitimate businesses don't threaten legal action over a first query about an invoice. If someone becomes aggressive when you ask reasonable questions, that's a strong sign something isn't right.

5. Report It

If you receive one of these calls or a suspicious invoice, report it to Action Fraud (the UK's national fraud reporting centre). This helps build a picture of active scams and may help catch the perpetrators.

You Haven't Done Anything Wrong

If you've already received one of these calls and repeated some phrases, don't worry. You haven't created a contract, and you're not obligated to pay for anything you didn't genuinely order through your normal purchasing process.

Should a suspicious invoice arrive, respond calmly in writing, request evidence of the original agreement, and don't be bullied into paying. If they can't produce a legitimate purchase order or email trail from your business, you don't owe them anything.

We're Here to Help

Scams like this work because they create doubt and pressure. Having a trusted partner to sense-check suspicious situations makes a real difference.

At Fresh Tech, we help small businesses across Shropshire, Herefordshire, and the surrounding areas stay safe from both digital and social engineering threats. Whether it's a suspicious email, an odd phone call, or an invoice that doesn't look right, we're happy to take a look and give you a straight answer.

**If you're unsure about a suspicious call or email, contact Fresh Tech — we're here to help.**