Cybercriminals have devised new and creative ways to scam people out of their money in recent years. A new method called “vishing” has been on the rise, and it involves criminals posing as representatives of a bank or financial institution and tricking people into giving them money.
The National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NCISA) has warned the public about this new tactic involving criminals calling people and claiming they are at risk of a cyber-attack. They then convince the victim that the only way to protect their money is to transfer it to a “reserve” or “backup” account. The criminals use various methods to make the call seem legitimate, including spoofing official phone numbers and using the names of actual NCISA employees.
This scam is particularly troubling because it is relatively sophisticated, and even cautious individuals can fall victim to it. The criminals use two basic scenarios to trick people: they pretend to be NCISA employees or claim to be representatives of a bank or financial institution. They use phone numbers similar to these organizations’ official numbers to add to the illusion of legitimacy.
To make the scam seem even more convincing, the criminals use the names of actual NCISA employees, which they likely obtain from publicly available sources. They also claim that the whole transaction is under the watchful eye of the NCISA. Of course, this is all a lie, and the criminals are simply trying to steal people’s money.
The NCISA advises anyone who receives such a call to contact their bank and the police immediately. They also caution people against taking hasty actions, such as transferring money or sharing personal information over the phone. It is essential to verify the legitimacy of any phone call or message before making any decisions.
Unfortunately, vishing is just one of the many ways cybercriminals are used to scam people out of their money. Staying vigilant and informed about the latest scams and tactics criminals use is crucial. The NCISA and other organizations are working hard to keep people safe, but it is up to individuals to take responsibility for their online security.