How to Stay One Step Ahead of Vishing Scams

Not all cyberattacks involve fancy hacking techniques. Some scammers use good old-fashioned phone calls to trick you into spilling your personal and financial information. These vishing, or voice phishing, scams can pose a serious threat to you and your loved ones if you don’t know the warning signs. To learn how to spot these vishing scams and protect yourself from becoming the next target, follow these 4 tips:

1. Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls

Vishing scammers are pros at catching you off guard. They may pretend to be from your bank, government agencies, law enforcement, tech support or customer service and will try to extract personal information from you. If you did not expect or initiate the call — or if something feels off — trust your instincts and hang up. Don't give out any personal details, like your Social Security number, credit card information or passwords, over the phone. Legitimate organizations will not ask for sensitive information by phone, nor will they pressure you to make hasty decisions.

2. Don’t fall for scare tactics

Voice phishing scammers know just how to push your buttons and fill you with fear. They might spin tales about your bank account being hacked, your identity being stolen or even threaten you with legal trouble if you don't do exactly what they say. But don't let their scare tactics get to you. Stay calm, think logically and do not give in to the vishing scammer’s demands.

3. Verify the caller’s identity

If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from a particular company or institution and asking for any personal information, hang up and verify their identity through reliable sources like the organization’s official website or the customer service number printed on your account statement. The goal is to reach the company or organization directly to ensure the call you received was legit and not a vishing scam.

4. Take action!

If you’ve been the target of a vishing scam or suspect you may have been, report the incident to your local police or sheriff’s office, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and contact your state attorney general. If the victim of the scam is an older person, report the incident to the local or state agency that investigates elder fraud. By reporting such incidents, you're protecting yourself and others from falling into vishing traps.

Stay vigilant against vishing scams

Arm yourself with the knowledge to outsmart vishing scams, and spread the word to your friends and family to help keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Always, if something seems fishy (or “vishy”), trust your gut, speak up and report it right away.