FBI warns of 'vishing' attacks

The FBI is warning of a dramatic increase in the number of so-called 'vishing' attacks that entice mobile phone users into giving up personal banking details.

Vishing works in much the same way as phishing. An email or text message is sent to a user asking them to call the target bank to reactivate a credit or debit card.

"On calling the telephone number, the recipient is greeted with 'Welcome to the bank of ...' and [is] requested to enter their card number in order to resolve a 'pending security issue'," the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center said in an alert.

The availability of increasingly popular VoIP equipment and open source call-centre software has prompted scammers to set up their own call centres, often employing staff who may be unaware that they are working for a criminal gang.

The FBI is advising users to look up their bank's phone number and call them directly if they believe they have been a victim of a vishing attack.

See also:

FBI warns of malicious email scam

Beware of Feds bearing gifts  16 Jan 2008

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New database of criminal identities going worldwide  15 Jan 2008

US security agency leaks data

Damning report slams TSA  14 Jan 2008

Cyber-gangs gear up for 2008

Let's be careful out there  24 Dec 2007

Teenager held in £12.5m web fraud raid

Schoolboy accused of infecting a million PCs  30 Nov 2007

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