Scam Alert: Scammers ‘Vishing,’ Calling for Personal, Bank, Credit Car... Scams & Fraud
Vishing for Your Bank Info
Crooks call and text trying to get you to give up your personal data Don t do it
Scammers have your phone number—and may soon be calling with alarming but bogus news. Pretending to be from your bank or credit union, they claim that your checking or savings account, ATM card or credit card has been closed or frozen because of fraudulent activity, and your quick action is needed to resolve the problem. The call may come from a live human being who then asks for personal information such as account numbers and PINs to verify your identity. Or you may get a recorded call or text message telling you to call a supposed fraud hotline, where a recorded voice prompts you to provide the personal data. That’s the purpose, of course—to get you to give away information useful in stealing your money or identity. So if you get such a call or text, don’t believe it. Banks, credit unions and credit card issuers never alert customers of compromised accounts via text message. And if you get a call, give no information to the caller and don’t dial any provided call-back number. Instead, look up your bank’s phone number yourself and dial it to ask whether the claim is legitimate. Don’t feel reassured if your caller ID screen shows your bank’s name and number when one of these calls comes in. The bilkers can use spoofing software or Internet phone technology to display whatever they want on your screen. If you’ve already fallen for this ruse, immediately contact your bank and credit card providers to change account numbers. Then check your credit report at to determine whether fraudulent accounts have been opened in your name. The scam has been on the upsurge in recent months, after a long and successful run some years ago. Since late March, messages purporting to be from financial institutions in at least 11 states have been reported, according to one banking security website. Care to know the lingo associated with this ruse? If the fake alert goes to your landline or cellphone, it’s called “vishing”—for voice phishing, after fake e-mails that “phish” for account and other personal information. If the contact comes as a cellphone text message, it’s called “smishing,” derived from the short message service (SMS) technology that enables texting. Sid Kirchheimer is the author of Scam-Proof Your Life, published by AARP Books/Sterling. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures
Close In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.