Vishing scams – would you fall for them?
Phone scams
 | When you receive an unsolicited email asking for personal information (phishing scams) – hopefully you just delete the message. But what if you get a phone call?
We can sometimes be less guarded when a scam comes through the phone lines. These kind of scams are known as 'vishing' – voice phishing. |
Here are some examples:
Scam #1 - 'compromised credit card account'
In this email scam, the scammer asks consumers to call a phone number or click on a link due to a compromised credit card account. The email might claim to be from a credit union, bank or other financial institution and will read something like this
| 'Due to unusual levels of fraud we have had to suspend any future authorisations being conducted with your Visa Card. If you want this restriction to be removed from your account please call us. Call (a phone number) to have this restriction removed. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.' |
Scam #2 - 'your card must be re-activated'
This scam claims that the member’s personal identification number (PIN) was entered incorrectly three times, therefore the card had to be deactivated. The email then asks for the completion of an authentication form or for a phone call to be made to a number provided in order to activate the card. The email reads something like this:
'Dear Credit Union Member,
The personal identification number (PIN) was entered incorrectly more than three times. For your protection we have deactivated your card. To reactivate your card, please complete the authentication form or call (a phone number).
Credit Union Customer Service' |
When you call that number, unfortunately, you're actually speaking to fraudster or the criminal on the other side, who then can get additional information and steal your identity.
Scam #3 - 'update your account information'
You get a phone call from someone asking you to 'update your account information'.
To protect yourself from this type of scam, use some of the same techniques you’d use to avoid other phishing scams. Don’t give information to anybody unless you are certain you know whom you’re dealing with. If you get a phone call about one of your accounts, hang up and call the institution. Dial the number that appears on the back of your credit card or on your statements. Then, you know you’re in the right place and they can take care of any issues on your account.
The bad guys use internet telephone services to disguise where they really are and where you're really calling. So they can be in Russia for example, and get a local area code phone number in (say) Australia relatively quickly.
Hang up on a caller who asks for your account details.
Play it safe
Never click a link or call a number in an unsolicited email that asks for your personal information. Always assume that email is from an identity thief.
Never give out personal information to an unsolicited phone caller.
More common scams
Phishing (email) scams
FIDO Website: Printed 09/03/2010
