Common Vishing Techniques

Vishing, or voice phishing, is a growing threat where attackers use phone calls to trick people into revealing sensitive information. These scams often sound convincing and come from numbers that appear to be trusted, like your bank or a government agency. Knowing how vishing works and how to prevent it can protect both individuals and businesses.

Common Vishing Techniques

Caller ID Spoofing

Scammers fake caller ID to make it look like the call is coming from a bank, government office, or other trusted source. This tricks people into answering and trusting the conversation.

Pretexting

The caller creates a believable story, such as a fraud alert or refund offer. The goal is to gain the victim’s trust and extract personal or financial information.

Impersonation

Some attackers pose as IT support or help desk agents. They may request remote access or ask for login credentials under the excuse of “solving a problem.”

Automated Voicemail Threats

These are pre-recorded messages that claim your account is locked, breached, or at risk. They often urge you to call back or press a number, leading to further scam tactics.

Prevention Strategies

• Verify Caller IdentityAlways hang up and call the official number of the organization. Don’t trust the number that appears on your screen.

• Don’t Share CredentialsNever give your login details, PINs, or verification codes over the phone, no matter how urgent the caller sounds.

• Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)Even if an attacker gets your credentials, they won’t be able to log in without the second authentication step.

• Employee TrainingBusinesses should conduct regular sessions to raise awareness about phone scams and teach staff how to handle suspicious calls.

Best Practices for Organizations

• Caller Verification PoliciesCreate rules to verify a caller’s identity before sharing any sensitive information.

• Deploy Anti-Phishing ToolsUse technology that can detect and block calls from known suspicious numbers.

• Incident Response PlanHave a clear plan in place for reporting and responding to vishing attempts.

• Keep Contact Lists UpdatedEmployees should always have access to official contact numbers for vendors, partners, and internal teams.