Phishing, smishing and vishing are three ways a scammer might contact you in an attempt to gather personal information about you and carry out identity fraud. Show
These and other methods of identity fraud use your personal data or financial accounts to steal money, receive loans or services in your name, or to commit other crimes. In 2021, there were more than 1.4 million reports of identity theft, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Knowing what methods fraudsters use and how to spot them can help you avoid becoming a victim. Methods of Contact for Phishing, Smishing and VishingPhishingEmailSmishingSMS/text messageVishingPhone, robocall, voicemail, voice over internet protocol (VoIP)What Is Phishing?Phishing is a method of cyberattack that attempts to trick victims into clicking on fraudulent links in emails. The link typically takes the victim to a seemingly legitimate form that asks them to type in their usernames, passwords, account numbers or other private information. This information is then sent directly to scammers, and the victim may be none the wiser. For example, an email may state that your bank account has been locked and requests that you click a link to regain access. In truth, that link will lead to a fraudulent form that simply collects your information, such as your online banking username and password. The scammers can then log in to your account and steal your money. What Is Smishing?Smishing is a kind of fraud similar to phishing, except that it comes in the form of a text message. A smishing text will often contain a fraudulent link that takes victims to a form that's used to steal their information. The link may also download malware such as viruses, ransomware, spyware or adware onto the victim's device. These smishing text messages may appear to be urgent requests sent from a bank or parcel delivery service, for example. They may claim that there's been a large withdrawal from your bank account, or that you need to track a missing package. It can be easy to fall for this scam if you think you must take quick action to solve an urgent problem. What Is Vishing?Fraudulent calls or voicemails fall under the category of "vishing." Scammers call potential victims, often using prerecorded robocalls, pretending to be a legitimate company to solicit personal information from a victim. Perhaps you get a call about your car's extended warranty. If you answer this call and get connected to an alleged agent, you may be asked to provide information such as:
Some scammers may also record your voice and ask a question you're likely to answer with "Yes." They can then use this recording to pretend to be you on the phone to authorize charges or access your financial accounts. How to Prevent Phishing, Smishing and Vishing AttacksTo avoid becoming a victim of phishing, smishing or vishing, there are a few rules you can follow. These can protect you directly from scams and reduce the likelihood you will be targeted in the first place.
How to Protect Yourself if Your Information Has Been StolenScams are increasingly common, and many people become targets before they've even heard of phishing, smishing or vishing. In addition to the preventative steps above, it's important to be familiar with resources that can help you if your personal information is stolen.
While phishing, smishing and vishing scams are not likely to go away anytime soon, these are simple steps you can take to help protect yourself. What is phishing technique in which cybercriminals misrepresent themselves?Phishing is a prevalent type of social engineering that aims to steal data from the message receiver. Typically, this data includes personal information, usernames and passwords, and/or financial information. Phishing is consistently named as one of the top 5 types of cybersecurity attacks.
What phishing technique is over the phone?Vishing (Voice Phishing)
In phone phishing, the phisher makes phone calls to the user and asks the user to dial a number. The purpose is to get personal information of the bank account through the phone. Phone phishing is mostly done with a fake caller ID.
What is vishing and smishing?Smishing and vishing are scams where criminals attempt to get users to click a fraudulent link through a phone text message, email, or voicemail.
What is the smishing technique?Smishing is a form of phishing in which an attacker uses a compelling text message to trick targeted recipients into clicking a link and sending the attacker private information or downloading malicious programs to a smartphone.
|