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Vishing and Smishing: Phone and SMS Phishing Attack Prevention

Vishing and smishing attacks are on the rise. The FTC received over 570,000 reports of phone-based scams in 2024, with losses exceeding $2.3 billion. Criminals impersonate banks, government agencies, and tech support to extract sensitive information.

Vishing — voice phishing — uses phone calls to trick victims into revealing sensitive information. Attackers use caller ID spoofing to make it appear they are calling from a legitimate organization — your bank, the IRS, Amazon, or a government agency. They may use pre-recorded messages claiming suspicious activity on your account and urging you to press a number to speak with a representative. When you engage, the scammer uses psychological pressure to extract account numbers, passwords, or Social Security numbers, or to convince you to make a payment or purchase gift cards.

Smishing — SMS phishing — uses text messages with links to fake websites or phone numbers. Smishing texts often claim your account has been compromised, a package delivery failed, or you have won a prize. The link leads to a convincing fake login page that captures your credentials. Smishing is particularly dangerous because people trust text messages more than email, and mobile devices provide less security context than computers. Many smishing messages also attempt to install malware or redirect to premium-rate phone numbers. The rise of AI-generated voice cloning has made vishing even more dangerous — scammers can now impersonate a family member in distress, claiming to need money for bail or medical emergencies.

Common Vishing and Smishing Tactics

Bank impersonation: This is your bank's fraud department. There has been suspicious activity on your account. Please verify your account number and PIN. Government impersonation: This is the Social Security Administration. Your SSN has been suspended due to fraudulent activity. Press 1 to speak with an investigator. Tech support: We have detected a virus on your computer. Please go to this website and enter your credentials so we can remove it. Package delivery: Your package cannot be delivered. Click here to reschedule. Family emergency: AI-generated voice of a family member saying they have been in an accident or arrested and need money immediately. Lottery/prize scams: You have won a prize! Pay the processing fee to claim it. All these tactics rely on fear, urgency, or the promise of reward to bypass rational thinking.

How to Protect Yourself

Never provide personal information in response to an unsolicited phone call or text message. If you receive a call claiming to be from your bank, hang up and call the number on the back of your card. Do not call the number provided by the caller or in the text message. Do not click links in unsolicited text messages — even to opt out. Report smishing texts by forwarding them to 7726 (SPAM). Register your phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry. Use call-blocking apps like Nomorobo, Hiya, or RoboKiller. If a caller claims to be a family member in distress, hang up and call that family member directly at a known number. The IRS, Social Security Administration, and legitimate government agencies will never call demanding immediate payment or threatening arrest — these are always scams.

FAQs

What should I do if I gave my information to a vishing scammer?

Immediately contact your bank and credit card companies to freeze accounts and place fraud alerts. Change passwords on all affected accounts. Contact the three major credit bureaus to place fraud alerts. File a report with the FTC and local police. Monitor your accounts and credit reports closely.

How do scammers spoof phone numbers?

Attackers use VoIP technology to manipulate caller ID information, making any number appear on your screen. This is called neighbor spoofing — scammers show a local number or a number you might recognize to increase the likelihood you will answer. Do not trust caller ID alone.

Can I stop smishing texts?

Report spam texts by forwarding to 7726 (SPAM) — your carrier will use this to block future messages. Install spam filtering apps, enable filter unknown senders on your phone (iOS) or spam protection (Android), and never respond to suspicious texts. Do not click STOP or UNSUBSCRIBE — this confirms your number is active.

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