Vishing is a phone scam in which criminals pose as representatives from a legitimate organization to try to obtain personal information from victims. The term “vishing” comes from the combination of “voice” and “phishing,” and it represents a growing threat as scammers become more sophisticated in their methods. Vishing scams often operate in a similar way to phishing scams, using methods such as fake emails or websites to try to trick victims into revealing their personal information. Here are some useful insights on vishing by a title fraud attorney:

1. What is phishing?

To understand what vishing is, you must know what phishing is. Phishing is a type of cyber attack where a scammer pretends to be from a trustworthy agency.  It is important to note that phishing attacks can come in many forms, including email, text messages, or phone calls.

Some common goals of a phishing attack are:

  • Inject malware
  • Get access to your network
  • Wire money or give gift cards to the attackers
  • Gain access to confidential financial information

One of the most common phishing techniques is the spray-and-pray method, where attackers send out generic messages to a large number of people, hoping that at least a few of them will take the bait. These emails, text messages, or phone calls are made to appear as if they are sent by reputable financial organizations such as banks or revenue departments.

2. What are some common vishing scams?

Here are some of the common vishing scams:

  • Compromised credit or bank account: There are many scammers out there who may call you pretending to be from your bank or credit card company. They tell you that there’s a problem with your bank/credit account and ask for your login credentials to fix the issue. Or they may say that you require a new payment and try to get you to provide them with your credit card number and PIN.
  • Unsolicited loan or investment offers: If you receive an unsolicited offer for a loan or investment, it’s important to be skeptical. These offers are often too good to be sure and scammers will try to pressure you into making a decision quickly. They might say that you can make millions of dollars with a small investment or that you can pay off all your debt with one quick fix.
  • Medicare or social security scam: During medicare open enrollment season, it’s important to be extra vigilant about scammers who pose as Medicare representatives. These scammers are after your financial information, such as your medicare number or bank account details. They may also claim to be from the Social Security Administration and threaten to suspend or cancel your Social Security number if you don’t give them the information they are seeking.
  • IRS tax scam: This scam typically involves a pre-recorded message from someone claiming to be from the IRS. The message states that there is something wrong with your tax return and if you don’t call back, a warrant will be issued for your arrest. This type of scam is especially prevalent during tax season, as scammers know that people are more likely to be worried about their taxes at that time of the year. If you receive a call like this, do not call back and do not give out any personal information.

3. How to protect yourself from vishing?

Here are some tips to protect yourself from vishing:

  • It is better not to provide any information over the phone.
  • If you get to know that there is a delay of 2 to 3 seconds before a live person speaks, it could be an auto-dialer system.
  • A legitimate caller will not hesitate to give his or her professional affiliations. However, scammers could be reluctant to confirm their web address, identity and other online verification details.
  • It is always better not to answer unknown calls. Let your phone ring and then go to voicemail. In that way, you can listen to the message and can determine whether the call is legitimate or not.

4. What to do if you provide sensitive information to a scammer?

In this case, call your financial institution and ask them to block your credit card, block fraudulent transactions and change your account number.

If you provide your personal information to scammers, they can:

  • Take out loans by opening a new bank account in your name
  • Drain your bank account
  • Buy expensive goods in your name
  • Get access to your government-related online services
  • Steal your superannuation
  • Access your email and all other social media accounts and impersonate you to scam your friends and family
  • They can commit home title fraud or home title theft

Home title fraud is a serious problem that has been on the rise in recent years. In 2008, the FBI issued a warning about this type of scam, which typically involves the theft of a property with equity in it. The scammer will first steal the identity of the homeowner and forge documents that transfer the ownership of the house to themselves. After they file the documents with all the proper authorities, they have legal ownership of the property. This type of fraud can have devastating consequences for the victim, so it is important to be aware of the signs.

Are you looking for a reputed title fraud attorney?

If you think you are a victim of fraud, get in touch with David L. Fleck. He is a title fraud attorney who specializes in helping victims of fraud. He has represented many organizations and individuals to recover property/money that was taken from them fraudulently.