Phone Call Scams is called Vishing.
The greatest defense you have against a phone call scams is yourself.
Anytime anyone calls you and creates a tremendous sense of urgency or pressure, be extremely suspicious. They are attempting to rush you into making a mistake. Even if the phone call seems OK at first, if it starts to feel strange, you can stop and say “no” at any time. Only do the following when you receive a call:
- Never trust Caller ID. Bad guys will often spoof the number, so it looks like it is coming from a legitimate organization or has the same area code as your phone number.
- Never allow a caller to take temporary control of your computer or trick you into downloading software. This is how they can infect your computer.
- Unless you placed the call, never give the other party information that they should already have. For example, if the bank called you, they shouldn’t be asking for your account number.
- If you believe a phone call is an attack, simply hang up.
Scams and attacks over the phone are on the rise. You are the best defense at detecting and stopping them.