The era when cybercriminals only attacked via unsolicited emails is long gone. Now, vishing – fraudulent phone calls – is becoming increasingly popular. The Czech Banking Association (ČBA) recently warned of a rise in fraudulent phone calls in the country, with scammers exploiting spoofing techniques to deceive even cautious users.
In the past, during vishing attacks, cybercriminals would typically pose as bankers, police officers, or security experts. Now, they are trying the same tactic under the banner of the ČBA. The association has intercepted dozens of fake phone calls, during which the scammers successfully mimic its official phone number.
The problem is exacerbated by modern smartphones that can verify caller numbers automatically on the internet. Scammers who spoof the number will appear to be truly calling from the ČBA. This fraudulent activity often targets clients of financial institutions operating in the Czech Republic, including Air Bank, Česká spořitelna, ČSOB, Fio banka, KB, Moneta, Raiffeisen Bank, and Partners Bank.
The ČBA does not offer financial or advisory services or contact the clients of its member banks in any way. If someone requests client data in the name of the ČBA or offers financial or advisory services in its name, it is clearly a fraudulent call.
Experts from the National Office for Cyber and Information Security (NÚKIB) advise against making any hasty decisions based on unverified phone calls or communication with unknown persons via SMS, email, or other messages. They recommend checking with your bank to verify if an employee has called you before making rash decisions.