Cybercriminals have become smarter with their tricks in the past few years or since the pandemic (COVID-19). They’re continuously making new ways to trap people and steal their valuable information. One of their recent tactics is vishing or voice phishing.
In this scam, scammers use phone calls to deceive victims and manipulate them to reveal their no-to-share information, like bank account details, passwords, security codes, or any other private things. These attackers are very convincing and often pretend themselves as a trusted figure. But, the reality is they’re not, and people don’t realize until it’s too late.
Although the vishing attack is quite hard to defend against, with the correct approach, you can spot these scams and stop them. Keep reading as this article will discuss vishing, how it works, and what we should do to prevent this constant growing attack. Best Tips To Protect Yourself From Cyberstalking.
What is a Vishing Attack?
Vishing is a type of cybercrime where attackers use phone calls to trick people into sharing personal or financial information. It is similar to phishing (done via email) and smishing (done via text messages).
In vishing, attackers rely on voice communication to sound convincing and manipulate their targets. These scammers play with people’s emotions. They do actual conversations, like we have with any other banking officials, which forces us to share what they’re asking.
For example, an attacker might say they are from your bank’s fraud department and warn you about suspicious activity on your account. They use this false identity so that they can easily ask for sensitive information like credit card numbers, passwords, or verification codes.
Since they mainly rely on fear or urgency, many people fall into their trap because when they call them, it feels urgent or official.
How Does a Vishing Attack Work?
Vishing attacks usually follow a pattern. First, attackers gather basic information about their target. This information could come from leaked data, social media, or other sources.
Next, they contact the victim and create a sense of urgency or fear. For example, they might claim that your account is at risk and needs immediate action.
This pressure often makes people act without thinking. Victims may share sensitive details, transfer money, or even give remote access to their devices, falling into the attacker’s trap.
What Are the Common Examples of Vishing Attacks?
Let’s have a look at the most common example of vishing attacks:
Banking Scams
Scammers often impersonate bank employees to steal personal data. They may call about a fake charge and ask for login info or a PIN to “secure” the account. They might also claim a bill was overpaid and request details to refund the amount.
Tax Scams
Scammers pose as representatives from tax authorities, such as the IRS officer, and say there are mistakes in the victim’s tax return. They often use threats of legal action or fines to pressure victims into immediate compliance.
Social Security and Medicare Scams
Older individuals are common targets for vishing attacks involving Social Security or Medicare. Attackers may claim there’s an issue with the victim’s benefits and demand sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers, to “fix” the problem.
Investment and Loan Scams
Fraudsters offer fake investment opportunities or loans with promises of quick returns. Victims are pressured to act immediately and often asked to pay upfront fees.
How to Prevent From Vishing Attacks?
In vishing scams, there are high chances of getting trapped. But we can also protect ourselves and our organizations from these attacks. Let’s learn the prevention techniques one-by-one:
1. Cybersecurity Awareness
First of all, being aware is one of the best ways to fight any type of scam attack. When you vishing well, how scammers work can help you spot and avoid their tricks.
- Keep Key Information Private: Never share your details like passwords, bank account numbers, ATM PINs, or any security codes over the phone. Always remember that any legitimate company will never ask you for this kind of information.
- Check Caller Identity: You should always verify who’s calling before giving any information. If a call seems suspicious, hang up, and call the company directly using their official phone and ask them whether they have called you or not.
- Think Before Acting: If a caller tries to rush you or asks you to do something unusual or particularly what they want, take a pause by telling them to please wait a minute. In that time, take your time to assess the situation and do what your guts say.
2. Don’t Pay with Gift Cards:
Remember, scammers nowadays, are mostly asking you to pay using gift cards or prepaid cards. No real organization will demand payment through these methods.
3. Never Allow Remote Access:
Scammers might ask to access your computer. They pretend to be a technician who can resolve a problem you’re having. Never grant such access unless you are certain the caller is a verified IT professional.
4. Report Suspicious Calls
If you encounter a vishing attempt, report it immediately to the relevant authorities. You can reach out to your local cybersecurity agency or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the U.S. Organizations should also have a reporting system in place for employees.
5. Use Call Blocking and Filtering Tools
Nowadays, many phone service providers offer tools to block or filter suspected spam or scam calls. Additionally, third-party apps can help screen calls and prevent vishing attempts.
6. Implement Strong Security Protocols in Organizations
For businesses, creating a strong security framework is essential. This includes:
- Regular Employee Training: Train employees to recognize and respond to vishing attempts.
- Establishing a Threat Model: Identify potential vishing scenarios and develop strategies to eliminate them.
- Monitoring Suspicious Activity: Monitor phone-based interactions and flag any unusual requests or patterns.
Note: If something feels bad, trust your instincts and report it to the nearest cyber cell.
Conclusion
Over the years, vishing has become a serious threat. But, if you have the right knowledge, it can be avoided. They mainly use fear and show urgency, so that you can take steps without thinking too much. However, if you stay calm and careful, you can protect yourself from these scams.
We’d recommend confirming who is calling to you, and never sharing any personal information over the phone. Ask them where they are speaking and everything that shows them legitimate. Please keep in mind that a genuine company will never pressure you on anything.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is a vishing attack?
A. Vishing is when scammers use phone calls or voicemails to trap you into sharing personal information, like credit cards, ATM PIN, or any other important details. They often show them as a trusted official and steal sensitive data from you.
Q2. What is the key difference between phishing, smishing, and vishing attacks?
A. Phishing uses fake emails or links, smishing uses text messages or messaging apps, and vishing uses voice calls or voicemails to steal private information.
Q3. How can I avoid a vishing attack?
A. If you’re looking for ways to avoid vishing, never share private information over the phone, verify the caller’s identity, be cautious of urgent requests, and report suspicious calls.