Voice phishing, commonly known as vishing, takes phishing beyond email and SMS and into the realm of phone calls. Vishing involves cybercriminals using phone calls or voice messages to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information, such as login credentials, credit card numbers, or other personal details. Unlike traditional phishing, which relies on written communication, vishing leverages the spoken word, making it feel more personal and immediate.

The key to vishing is social engineering—attackers manipulate their targets by creating a sense of urgency or authority. They may pretend to be a representative from a bank, a government agency, or even a company’s IT department. The attacker often claims that the victim’s account has been compromised, a payment is overdue, or immediate action is required to prevent a serious consequence. This pressure is designed to make the victim act quickly, without stopping to question the legitimacy of the call.

One common vishing scenario involves an attacker posing as a bank employee, claiming there’s suspicious activity on the victim’s account. The caller may ask the victim to verify their account details, such as their bank account number, PIN, or Social Security number. By creating a sense of urgency and using the authority of a trusted institution, the attacker can convince the victim to provide the requested information. Once the attacker has this data, they can access the victim’s account and potentially steal money or personal information.

Another common vishing tactic is caller ID spoofing. Attackers can manipulate the caller ID to make it appear as though the call is coming from a legitimate source, such as a bank or a government office. This makes the call seem more credible, increasing the likelihood that the victim will believe the story being presented and comply with the attacker’s requests. Caller ID spoofing adds a layer of deception that makes vishing particularly dangerous.

Vishing has also been used in corporate attacks, often referred to as CEO fraud or Business Email Compromise (BEC) over the phone. In these scenarios, attackers impersonate high-ranking executives and pressure employees into making unauthorized wire transfers or sharing sensitive company information. The attackers typically target employees in finance or administration, presenting the request as urgent and confidential. Because the request appears to come directly from an executive, employees may be hesitant to question the authenticity of the call.

Voicemail phishing is another variation of vishing, where attackers leave automated or pre-recorded voice messages for their targets. These messages often sound official, claiming to be from a bank, government office, or tech support team, and they instruct the recipient to call back a provided number. When the victim calls the number, they are connected to an attacker who continues the scam, collecting personal information or convincing the victim to install malicious software.

Vishing is particularly effective because people are generally more trusting of voice communication than they are of written messages. Hearing a human voice—especially one that sounds professional or urgent—can lead individuals to let their guard down and take actions they wouldn’t normally take. Attackers also benefit from the immediacy of a phone call, which doesn’t give the victim time to carefully think through their actions or consult with others.

In recent years, AI-generated voice technology has raised concerns about the future of vishing. Attackers can now use AI to create convincing voice recordings of real individuals, including executives or family members. These synthetic voices can be used in vishing attacks to trick victims into believing they are talking to someone they know or trust, further complicating efforts to detect and prevent these scams.

To protect against vishing, individuals and businesses should be cautious about sharing personal or financial information over the phone, especially if the call is unsolicited. It’s important to verify the legitimacy of any request by contacting the organization directly through official channels, rather than relying on the information provided in the call. Businesses should also train employees to recognize the signs of vishing and establish protocols for verifying unusual or urgent requests made over the phone.

As vishing continues to evolve, awareness and education remain key to preventing this form of phishing. Recognizing the tactics used in voice phishing and maintaining a healthy skepticism during phone-based interactions can help mitigate the risks associated with vishing.