Vishing: The Threat Of Phone Scams

Voice phishing, also called "vishing", is a scam where someone calls you pretending to be from a trusted place, like your bank, the police, or a tech company.

How Vishing Works

The scammer’s main goal is to get you to reveal personal information, like your passwords, credit card numbers, or Social Security number, so they can steal from you.

1. Pretending to Be Someone Important: Scammers might say they’re from a well-known organization, like a bank, a government agency, or a familiar company.
2. Creating Urgency: They might try to make you feel panicked or stressed, claiming there’s a problem with your account or that you owe money, hoping you’ll act without thinking.
3. Asking for Personal Information: Often, they’ll ask for things they can use to access your accounts or identity, like user names, passwords, or Social Security numbers.

Examples of Voice Phishing Scams

• Bank Fraud Alert: You might get a call saying there's unusual activity on your bank account. They’ll ask for your account details to “verify” your identity.
• Police or Government Threat: The caller claims you owe back taxes and will face legal trouble if you don’t pay immediately.
• Tech Support: They might say they’re from a well-known tech company, warning you about a “virus” on your computer and asking for payment to fix it.
• Investment offer: An unknown person calls with a very profitable online investment offer, trying to convince you to transfer funds to a bank account belonging to fraudsters.
• A phone call from a family member: Or you get a call from someone who claims to be a member of your family and needs your help with, for example, an unexpected expense in the budget. You can read more about this type of scam in our article .

Remember: Real companies and government agencies will never pressure you to share personal information or act immediately. Stay calm, take your time, and verify whenever you’re in doubt.

How to Protect Yourself from Vishing

1. Don’t Share Personal Information Over the Phone: If you didn’t initiate the call, don’t give out sensitive details. Legitimate companies rarely ask for passwords, user names, or Social Security numbers by phone.
2. Hang Up and Verify: If you’re unsure about a call, hang up. Then, call the organization back using their official number (found on their website or a trusted source).
3. Check out the caller in a different way: Some apps, especially banking apps, allow you to authenticate callers on your phone. During the call, you ask the other party to identify themselves with a code. If the same code appears in your bank's app, you can be sure you are really talking to a bank employee.
4. Be Wary of Caller ID: Scammers can fake caller ID or phone number to make it look like they’re calling from a legitimate place. Even if it shows the name of a real company.
5. Don’t Rush: If someone is pushing you to act quickly, stop for a moment. Scammers often create urgency to prevent you from thinking it through.
6. Use Call Blocking: Many phones and providers have options to block or screen calls. This can help you avoid repeated scam calls.

What to Do if You Think You’ve Been Targeted

• End the Call Right Away: It’s okay to hang up if something feels off.
• Report the Scam: You can report voice phishing attempts to the relevant authorities or police in your country.
• Contact Your Bank: If you shared any financial details, contact your bank to put protective measures in place.