“Vishing”, or voice-based phishing, is a method used by identity thieves to steal your credit card number and other personal information over the phone. Here’s how to tell if a call is actually from a scammer, and the best way to handle the situation if you’re not sure.
In this video from the Business Insider YouTube channel, Adam Levin, author of Swiped: How to Protect Yourself in a World Full of Scammers, Phishers, and Identity Thieves, describes what the typical vishing scam phone call might sound like. Levin also explains what words you should listen for when you receive a call from someone claiming to be your financial institution:
We think there has been some suspicious activity on your credit card. We just want to confirm these transactions with you.
If they say anything different, Levin recommends you hang up on them, check the back of your card for a customer service phone number, and ask them if someone from that institution just called you. If not, it was probably a scammer. If they did actually call you, they will be able to connect you with the security department again.
Protect yourself from scammers by doing this when your bank calls [YouTube]
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