What is Vishing?
Vishing begins with an “urgent” message – either by voicemail or automated call. The message appears to be from a legitimate source, such as a financial institution or other well-known business, and requests for the recipient to dial a specific phone number or respond to an automated call. The criminal’s end goal? To obtain your personal or banking account information for financial gain.
- An email, voicemail, or text message asking the recipient to call a phone number, where they will be directed to an automated system which asks them to enter their account number, debit card, and PIN, Social Security Number, or other personally identifiable or financial information.
- A text message asking the recipient to reply to the message to:
- Activate an account or newly issued debit/credit card by entering the account number or the card number and/or PIN.
- Verify that a debit/credit card is in their possession by entering the card number and/or PIN.
- To reactivate their account or debit card, commonly used to make people think that it’s recently been suspended or deactivated.
- An automated call stating the recipient's account or card is blocked. They are directed to select a menu option and asked to enter an account number, debit/credit card and PIN, Social Security Number, or other personally identifiable or financial information.
What You Can Do
- Do not give the caller any information.
- Ask for their name and the name of the organization they are representing.
- Tell them you will call them back and hang up. Do not use the number they provided.
- Look up the phone number for the organization they identified and call that number.
- Explain to their representative why you are calling.