By Fred Flamer
The term "Vishing" stands for Voice Phishing and is closely related to traditional phishing attacks.
Vishing is a form of social engineering where scammers use phone calls, voice messages, or automated systems to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information. The goal is often to obtain passwords, banking information, Multifactor Authentication (MFA) codes, Social Security numbers, credit card information, or other personally identifiable information.
These calls may appear to come from a bank representative, title company official, government agency, healthcare provider, financial institution, law enforcement agency, or even the IRS.
The scammers' objective is simple: gain your trust and convince you to give them information that they should never have.
One of the most common tactics used during a vishing attack is creating a sense of urgency.
The caller may claim:
- Your bank account has been compromised.
- Your identity has been stolen.
- You owe taxes and are facing penalties.
- Your computer has been hacked.
- A family member is in trouble.
- A suspicious transaction has occurred.
The goal is to make you react emotionally before you have time to think critically.
The Robo-Call Trap
Let me alert you to a popular scam that has been circulating for years.
Have you ever answered a phone call and heard nothing on the other end?
In many cases, these are automated robo-calls.
These systems can place hundreds or even thousands of calls in a very short period of time. What they are often trying to determine is whether a live person answers the phone.
When you answer, you may notice a two-to-three-second delay before someone speaks. This delay is often referred to as "robo-connection lag." During that time, the automated system is attempting to connect you to a live operator or determine whether your number is active.
If you answer one of these calls, don't rush to speak.
Pause for a few seconds and see what happens.
Many times, the call will disconnect on its own or play a recorded message such as:
"Hello?"
"Can you hear me?"
"Are you there?"
Scammers use these tactics to encourage you to engage in conversation.
If you choose to respond, speak in complete sentences such as:
- "Who am I speaking with?"
- "What company are you calling from?"
- "I believe you have the wrong number."
Of course, you always have the option of hanging up immediately.
Area Code Spoofing
Another common tactic is called area code spoofing.
A scammer may be located hundreds or even thousands of miles away, yet the incoming phone number appears to be from your local area code.
Why?
Because people are much more likely to answer a call that appears to be coming from their own community.
Do not assume a call is legitimate simply because the number looks familiar.
Phone numbers can be spoofed.
Trust must be earned through verification, not appearances.
Ways to Protect Yourself from Vishing
• If you do not recognize the number, consider letting the call go to voicemail.
• Never provide passwords, MFA codes, Social Security numbers, banking information, or other sensitive information over the phone.
• Be skeptical of callers who create urgency, fear, or pressure you to act immediately.
• If you are interested in the caller's claim, hang up and call the organization back using a phone number you have previously used or obtained from an official source.
• Be cautious of local area codes. They can be spoofed.
• If you answer a suspicious call, ask questions and speak in complete sentences rather than immediately providing information.
• Never trust caller ID alone as proof of legitimacy.
• When in doubt, hang up.
Remember, legitimate organizations generally understand when you want to verify who they are. Scammers, on the other hand, often become impatient when you ask questions or refuse to cooperate.
Slow down.
Verify.
Be skeptical.
Those three habits can help protect you from becoming the next victim of a vishing attack.
-Fin-
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© 2026 Fred Flamer. All Rights Reserved.