Understanding Phone Phishing
Phone phishing, or a telephone scam or vishing (voice phishing), refers to fraudulent and malicious phone calls to obtain money or sensitive information from victims.
In phone phishing attacks, perpetrators impersonate trusted individuals or institutions to deceive their targets.
Recognizing and Avoiding Enticing Scams
The attackers typically contact unsuspecting victims and offer them various enticing opportunities, such as extended product warranties, services, antivirus software, charity donations, or free vacations.
They then proceed to request victims’ credit card numbers and other financial information.
Vulnerability Exploitation
Phone phishers often employ fear tactics and threats to coerce individuals into giving them money.
They commonly target vulnerable groups, including immigrants, by using tactics such as threatening them with arrests, fines, or even deportation if they fail to pay taxes or a specified amount of money.
Phone phishing scams may also involve urgent warning messages or ultimatums to create a sense of urgency and pressure victims into immediate action.
In 2018, phone phishing scams resulted in over $48 million in losses in the United States alone.
Unfortunately, this practice continues to rise, emphasizing the importance of awareness and understanding common phishing tactics to prevent falling victim to future attacks.