Imagine receiving a call claiming to be from your bank, warning of “suspicious activity” on your account. The caller, sounding professional and concerned, asks you to confirm your account number or PIN to “resolve the issue.”
The scenario described is a very common scam, called vishing or voice phishing. Vishing is where attackers use phone calls to manipulate victims into revealing sensitive information or sending money. These attacks often target emotions, using urgency, fear or even curiosity to trick individuals into acting without thinking. Don’t let vishing attacks play with your emotions.
Tips to avoid vishing attacks:
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Stay Calm. Scammers thrive on urgency. Take a moment to pause and evaluate the situation before responding.
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Verify the Caller. If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of a call, hang up and contact the organization directly using their official number.
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Protect Personal Information. Never share sensitive information, like account numbers or passwords, over the phone unless you initiated the call and are certain of the recipient’s identity. Remember, IT will never contact you, asking for personal information or credentials. If the caller is impersonating someone from HM, call the IT Service Desk immediately.
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Use Caller ID Wisely. While it can help, scammers can spoof numbers to appear as if they’re calling from a trusted source.
