Vishing (Phone Call Scams)
Severity — High How common — Very common
Scam phone calls where someone pretends to be your bank, a government agency, or tech support to pressure you into giving up information, money, or account access.
How it works
The phone rings and the caller claims to be someone official — a fraud department, the IRS, Microsoft support. They say something is wrong and only you can fix it: suspicious charges, unpaid taxes, a virus on your computer. They keep you on the line, build fear, and walk you step by step toward reading out a code, moving money, or installing software that hands them control.
Warning signs
A caller creating panic and insisting you stay on the line
A request for a password, one-time code, gift cards, or a wire transfer
Claims that only their method can fix the problem
Caller ID that looks official (it can be faked)
How to protect yourself
STOP. Hang up. A real institution won't mind you calling back.
VERIFY. Call the number on the back of your card or the official website — never a number the caller gives you.
RESPOND. If you shared anything, contact your bank immediately and change affected passwords.