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Vishing is a scam where scammers obtain bank or credit card information by leaving automated messages and instructing people to call a toll-free number. To avoid this, look up the legitimate phone number of your bank or credit card company and call that instead. Report any attempted scams to the appropriate authorities.
A vishing scam is the latest scam that discerning consumers, and essentially anyone with a credit card and phone, need to know about to avoid being scammed. Specifically, the vishing scam is a way of obtaining bank or credit card information from someone, which can then be used against the person. Vishing scam operators want access to this information so that they can access credit cards or bank accounts and clean people up.
The typical vishing scam makes use of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which allows people to talk over their computer lines and can allow multiple numbers to be dialed at the same time. Scammers can work from a list of regional phone numbers or even an address book, but what they mostly do is call everyone they can and leave an automated message saying the person’s credit card or bank account has been compromised. out of stock or closed. When this process is done via email it is called phishing, instead of vishing.
People who have been left with a message are instructed to call a number to get more information about this alleged compromise. Scammers often use toll-free numbers for this purpose and may even have, for people with caller ID, the legitimate name of the company that is supposedly calling. When people call the number, they are instructed to dial their credit card or bank account number and sometimes also information such as personal identification numbers (PIN) or social security number. Once this information is obtained, callers can speak to a person impersonating a “representative” or can never reach a representative and are put on hold. Meanwhile, the damage is done and the scammers can then use the information to steal money or credit card numbers.
Essentially, it’s quite easy to avoid a scam by vishing or conducted via email, and now commonly via text messaging on cell phones. Instead of calling the number listed, look up your bank account phone number or credit card phone number and call that number instead. If you are hacked, a bank or credit card company can notify you immediately letting you know that there has not been any illegal activity on your account or any compromise in the security of your account. However, these scams can seem very real, because they often contain warnings about non-disclosure of personal information, which could lead a potential target to believe that the company calling, messaging or emailing is protecting their interests.
The main thing to remember is to never call the number listed on any potential vishing scam call. This will not take you to your bank or credit card company and if you provide your information it is likely to be stolen. People are naturally concerned if they feel the security of one of their accounts may have been compromised, but it will only take a few minutes to find the legitimate number of the “supposed” business calling you. You can also do your part by making sure the bank or company knows you have been a victim of abuse, and you should consider reporting any such attempted scam in the US to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, jointly run by the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center.
For those outside the US, the following numbers may help. In Canada, report online vishing or phishing attempts to the government organization Reporting Economic Crime Online or call 1-888-495-8501. In the UK, you should send your report directly to the bank named in the scam.
