“Vishing” might sound new, but it’s really a variation on an old scam.
In the same way “phishing” uses fake emails to trick people into sending money or divulging personal information like bank account and credit card login credentials, “vishing” uses fraudulent phone calls.
In these calls, a scammer informs you of an “urgent matter.” They might claim to be a family member in legal trouble, a representative of your bank or an IRS agent. Of course, the “urgent matter” must be resolved immediately by sending money or providing personal information, with failure resulting in account closure, loss of funds, substantial fines – even arrest.
Scammers' goal is to confuse and frighten you into reacting without thinking.
If you get an urgent call like this, don’t react. Think. End the call and verify the information by calling the family member or the institution in question.
Six ways to tell if a phone call is a vishing attack:
- It starts with a prerecorded message Announcing a valuable offer that you need to “claim” immediately.
- There’s an extreme sense of urgency To get you to react without thinking, due to the threat of imminent expiration dates, financial penalties or criminal prosecution.
- You’re asked to provide sensitive, personal information Such as your PIN, credit card details, Social Security number or birth date to “fix a problem” with a financial account.
- The caller claims to be from a government agency, Such as Social Security or the IRS, and warns you about unpaid taxes or a suspended Social Security account. Federal agencies never call asking for personal information.
- You're told that your software has expired or requires an emergency upgrade And that you must make a payment immediately. The “support staff member” may threaten you with the loss of important files.
- You found out you "won" a prize From an airline or luxury resort, and you simply need to pay a “small fee” to claim it.
Keeping you aware of the dangers of vishing is another way Credit Union ONE is helping to protect you, your data and your finances.