What is Vishing?

The term vishing is a combination of “voice” and “phishing,” and describes a type of scam where phone calls or voice messages are used to trick victims into revealing personal information, financial details, or login credentials.

In this article, we explain what vishing is, how you can protect yourself, and what to do if you become a target.

How Vishing Works

Vishing is a form of phone-based fraud. Unlike traditional phishing through email or fake websites, it relies on exploiting the sense of urgency that comes with direct interaction.

• Initiation: The scammer calls the victim or leaves a voicemail with an urgent request to call back a specific number.
• False identity: The scammer often poses as a representative from a trusted organization, such as a bank, a government agency (e.g., the Swedish Tax Agency), a tech support company, or even a relative in distress.
• Manipulation: Using psychological tactics, the scammer pressures the target into acting quickly without thinking. This might involve offers that seem too good to be true, or sharing alarming information to create fear and uncertainty. The primary goal is to instil urgency.
• Information extraction: The aim is to get the victim to reveal sensitive information such as passwords, PIN codes, credit card numbers, personal identity numbers, or even to make bank transfers to the scammer’s account

Why Vishing Is Effective

What makes vishing particularly effective is the direct, human interaction and psychological manipulation used by the scammer. A voice on the phone creates a sense of immediacy and can be harder to question than an anonymous email.

Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and may use:

• Phone number spoofing: Masking their own number to make it appear as if the call is coming from a legitimate source, increasing credibility.
• Pre-recorded messages: Automated voice messages can be sent at scale to reach many potential victims, giving the impression of a formal communication from a large organization.
• Social engineering: Leveraging personal details from leaked databases or social media to make their stories more convincing.
• Creating stress and urgency: Claiming there is an immediate problem requiring urgent action to prevent the victim from thinking critically or verifying the information.

How to Protect Yourself Against Vishing

Protecting yourself from vishing largely comes down to vigilance and skepticism toward unexpected phone calls and voicemails. Key tips include:

• Be critical of unknown callers: If you receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to represent an organization and asking for sensitive information, be sceptical. Hang up and contact the organization directly using the official contact details on their website.
• Never share personal information over the phone: Legitimate organizations will never call you and ask for sensitive information such as passwords, PIN codes, or credit card numbers.
• Don’t act under pressure: If the caller tries to rush you or create panic, it’s a strong sign of a vishing attempt. Take time to think and verify.
• Verify identity: If unsure about the caller’s identity, ask for their name and organizational ID, and say you will call back. Then confirm the number via the organization’s official channels.

How Dotkeeper Keeps Your Organization Safe

Dotkeeper offers a range of services that protect your organization from scams and ensure a secure digital presence. Together, these solutions help your business effectively counter vishing and other digital threats:

• Domain Management: Strategic management of your domain names protects them from hijacking and misuse, minimizing the risk of scammers exploiting your brand in vishing schemes.
• Secure Email with DMARC: DMARC prevents email spoofing and blocks unauthorized parties from using your domain to send fake messages, a common tactic in vishing scams.
• DNSSEC for Domain Security: This security extension protects your domain from manipulation and attacks through encryption, preventing users from being redirected to fraudulent websites.
• Premium DNS Services: A robust DNS setup improves availability and reduces the risk of DNS-related attacks, such as DDoS, which can be used to disrupt operations and enable vishing attempts.

Want to learn more about creating a tailored solution for your business? Contact us for expert advice.