What is a Vishing Attack & How to Prevent Becoming a Victim

A Vishing Attack is a type of scam that uses voice communication technology. The goal is to steal sensitive personal data for fraudulent activities, often financial. Vishing exploits people’s trust in telephone services, making it an effective tool for scammers.

The term Vishing is a combination of “voice” and “phishing.” Unlike traditional phishing attacks that happen through emails, pop-ups, or other online methods, vishing effectively uses phone calls or voice messages to trick victims into revealing their confidential information. Often, the “vishers” (how attackers that use this tact are called) employ fake caller IDs, pre-recorded messages, and social engineering techniques to appear convincing.

In a typical vishing attack scenario, the victim receives a phone call from a scammer who presents a convincing story. This could be a message posing as a bank, a service provider, or any authority figure that could plausibly require sensitive data. It’s common for them to say that there’s a need to confirm a few data because “they detected” a suspicious operation. The victim, believing they are interacting with a trusted entity, such as their credit card company, may divulge information like bank account details, credit card numbers, or social security numbers, which the “visher” then exploits for illicit gain.

Important: Pay attention to your bank and credit card company’s anti-fraud communications. Some institutions rarely or never call their clients. If you receive a communication that seems to be vishing, inform the caller that you prefer to call yourself to deal with it. This can help you from falling victim to a scam. And, if the communication is legit, they will likely agree with your decision.

How vishing works

Vishing typically follows the same pattern of deception as other types of phishing. The attacker will gather information in advance to make their calls look believable, and they usually use pre-recorded voice messages and spoofed caller IDs to trick victims into trusting them.

The attack can be automated using a computerized system that dials numbers randomly or sequentially. This makes it more effective since it can reach a large number of potential victims quickly.

The visher may also use social engineering techniques to make the attack more convincing. They will often try to build affinity with their intended victim by using a friendly, empathetic, or authoritative tone. They may also try to create a sense of urgency or give false promises to make the victim believe that they need to take immediate action.

Vishers may also use a technique called “caller ID spoofing” to disguise their true number and make it appear as if the call is coming from a legitimate company or organization. This makes it even more difficult for victims to realize they are being scammed.

Difference between phishing and vishing attacks

Although in both cases attackers use social engineering and create a sense of urgency, there are key differences between these two types of attacks. Phishing and vishing attacks differ primarily in their methods and tactics to deceive victims into divulging sensitive information.

Phishing mainly relies on digital channels and preys on the victim’s lack of attentiveness, while vishing leverages the trustworthiness of voice communication and the victim’s susceptibility to social manipulation.

Methods used in phishing attacks:

• Emails. Phishers often send fraudulent emails that seem to be from reputable sources. These emails typically contain a link that directs users to counterfeit websites where they are asked to input sensitive data.
• Website Pop-ups. Fake website pop-ups asking for user information are a common phishing tactic. The pop-ups often appear on masqueraded websites that mimic the look and feel of legitimate ones.
• Downloadable Files. Phishing attacks may coerce users into downloading malicious files that extract sensitive information from their systems.

Methods used in vishing attacks:

• Fraudulent Phone Calls. Vishers usually make phone calls posing as representatives from a bank or a service provider. They manipulate the victim into divulging sensitive information, exploiting the inherent trust people tend to have in voice-based communication.
• Voice Messages. Some vishers leave automated voice messages claiming to be from legitimate organizations, creating a sense of urgency that prompts the receiver to act fast, often leading to the divulgence of private information.
• Spoofed Caller IDs. Vishing attacks often involve caller ID spoofing, where attackers change their caller ID to a number that victims recognize and trust, further legitimizing the scam.

How vishing attacks affect your business

Vishing is a type of cyberattack that uses phone calls to trick victims into giving up their personal information or making payments.

Vishing attacks can affect businesses in a number of ways, including:

Financial loss

If a vishing attack is successful, the attacker may be able to steal your business’s financial information, such as credit card numbers, bank account numbers, or Social Security numbers. This information can then be used to make fraudulent purchases, withdraw money from your accounts, or commit identity theft.

Disruption of operations

A vishing attack can disrupt your business’s operations. For example, if the attacker is able to gain access to your computer systems, they may be able to steal data, install malware, or disrupt your network. This can lead to downtime, lost productivity, and financial losses.

Legal liability

If your business is the victim of a vishing attack, you may be legally liable for the losses that your customers suffer. This is because you have a responsibility to protect your customers’ personal information.

How to prevent vishing attacks

Preventing vishing attacks requires vigilance and a good understanding of the deceptive tactics used by fraudsters. Here are some effective ways you can safeguard your information and protect yourself from vishing:

Do not share sensitive information over the phone

Be wary of unsolicited calls asking for sensitive information. Legitimate organizations like banks, the IRS, or service providers will never call to ask for your personal details or account data.

Verify caller identity

If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from a familiar organization, verify their identity. Hang up and call back the official number on the organization’s website or your bill. Do not use the number provided by the caller for verification.

Vishers often spoof their caller ID to make it appear as a legitimate organization. Be cautious, as caller ID can be manipulated and may not be reliable.

Avoid responding to unknown calls or voice messages

If you receive a call or voice message from an unknown number, do not respond. Instead, search the number online to verify if it’s linked to any reported vishing scams.

Use two-factor authentication (2FA)

Enable 2FA for all your accounts as an additional layer of security. It is more difficult for vishers to breach your account with 2FA enabled. Even if they managed to convince you to give them sensitive information.

Report suspicious calls

If you receive a suspected vishing call, report it to your local law enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission in the US. Reporting these calls can help authorities track down and stop vishers.

Use anti-spam on your mobile phone

Install an anti-spam app on your mobile device to filter out fraudulent calls and messages.

Some mobile phone manufacturers include anti-spam in their telephone apps. Make sure to enable the function to automatically detect and inform any potential threat.

The importance of a forensic report after a vishing attack

A digital forensic report is a document that describes the findings of a digital forensic investigation.

A forensic report can help you identify the attacker by providing information about the IP address, phone number, or other identifying information used in the attack. This information can be used by law enforcement to track down the attackers as well as evidence in court if you decide to take legal action against the attackers.

Also, it can help you determine the extent of the damage caused by the attack. You can use this information to recover your lost data or money or to take legal action against the attackers.

The forensic report can also help you prevent future attacks by identifying the vulnerabilities that were exploited in the attack.

Common vishing attack examples

Vishers often impersonate a variety of businesses and organizations to gain the trust of their victims.

Once you know which are some of the most common entities they pretend to be, along with their deceptive tactics, you can protect yourself better.

Remember that there are no fail-proof prevention techniques. And even if you are cautious, you can still fall victim. That’s because these attackers are continuing to improve their methods to convince people to give them sensitive information.

Banks and Financial Institutions

During vishing attacks, the caller claims to be from the victim’s bank or credit card company. They may create a sense of urgency by stating there’s been fraudulent activity on the victim’s account and requesting sensitive information to rectify the issue.

Government Agencies

It’s common for vishers to impersonate government agencies, such as the IRS or Social Security Administration. They may claim the victim owes taxes or that their Social Security number has been compromised, pressuring the victim to provide personal information or payment.

Tech Support

Vishers pretending to be from tech support may claim there are issues with the victim’s computer or internet connection that need immediate attention. They may ask for remote access to the victim’s computer or for login credentials to resolve the supposed issues.

Since attackers may have stolen details from tech support or internet companies, they can contact clients who are supposed to receive a communication. This will make the victim easily trust the caller and have zero suspicion of the activity.

But, even when the call seems to be legit, it’s important to state that you’ll be calling soon about the subject.

Insurance Companies

By pretending to represent insurance companies, vishers may claim they need to verify or update the victim’s personal information. They may also state the victim is eligible for lower rates or a refund, but they need sensitive information first.

Utility Companies

Vishers may pose as representatives of utility companies, alleging there’s a problem with the victim’s account or that payment is overdue. They often prompt the victim to disclose personal information or make a payment over the phone to avoid service disconnection.

How can SalvageData help you stay protected from vishing attacks

At SalvageData, we understand the importance of information security and the potential consequences of falling victim to vishing attacks. Our team of experts is committed to helping you maintain the utmost level of data protection and recovery.

In the unfortunate event that you fall prey to a cyber attack, leading to the loss or compromise of data, our recovery solutions can ensure that your data is retrieved swiftly and securely.

We provide comprehensive consultations to help you understand how to better safeguard your data against such attacks in the future. That’s because your clients or employees can be the victim of vishing. Especially if a recent data breach took place.

Contact our experts 24/7 to ensure your company’s cybersecurity solutions are updated so you can safeguard your business and clients from vishing attacks.