Vishing and what to do about it
Vishing is, so to speak, a further development of phishing. It is a scam in which the victim is lured to a link in order to cause a problem on the computer. This problem can only be solved by the perpetrators. Recognizing vishing is difficult, but manageable.
What is vishing?
We have already explained what phishing is. It is about fishing for data. This is usually initiated via links that are sent in emails. Vishing follows a similar approach. Vishing involves the distribution of links that cause a problem. For example, posts containing a link are distributed on social media. If you click on this link, an error screen with a telephone number appears. The only way to get rid of the screen is to call the phone number. You will then be treated in a very friendly manner and asked to buy helpful software. A sum of money is then to be transferred for this. You are then asked for your credit card number or bank details. The fraudsters then have what they want and can then do all sorts of mischief with the data they have obtained. Vishing works in three stages: First, a link is shared that someone is supposed to click on. The computer is then blocked or another problem is reported. A telephone number is also given. In the second stage, the victim is called. Important data is requested. These are usually bank details or credit card data. In the third step, the hackers use the data obtained to withdraw money from accounts or make purchases with the credit card.
Recognize vishing
Vishing is generally not easy to recognize. The usual security tips apply here. The first of these is of course: do not click on any links whose origin you do not know. Not even if an interesting offer is advertised on social media. Sponsored posts on social media can also contain dangerous links. The best way to recognize vishing is during a phone call. The person on the other end of the line usually pretends to be a computer technician or an expert in another field. You can check this during the call. Ask job-specific questions to which you know the answer. See what answers you get. If necessary, take your cell phone with you and search the Internet for questions that are not easy to answer. Unless you are using your cell phone to make the call, of course. Even if you have no way of verifying the person’s authenticity, you should start a conversation first. Stall for a little time. Most criminals are in a hurry and will put pressure on you. This is how you recognize a scam. A genuine technician or service provider will give you all the time in the world to solve the problem if necessary. A fraudster is afraid of being caught and therefore wants to get the data as quickly as possible. You can also turn the tables a little. Make a note of everything you can find out during the conversation. But do not disclose any data yourself. Everything you learn can be helpful when reporting unknown fraudsters to the police. Furthermore, under no circumstances should you agree to be sent further links or text messages. These will only contain further malware. Do not disclose any data and do not allow anything to be sent to you. A genuine technician will solve the problem together with you over the phone and will not sell you any software over the phone. Look out for seriousness, then you will quickly recognize whether it is vishing.
Conclusion
Vishing is a method of data theft in which data is passed on directly in a personal conversation. Vishing is not easy to identify at first glance. However, you can expose fraudsters by asking specific questions. Alternatively, it is always a good method to play for time. Fraudsters like to put pressure on you to get their data and have no time.
