What is Vishing?

• A. Phishing via text message
• B. Phishing via email
• C. Phishing via social media
• D. Phishing via phone call

Answer: (D)

Phishing carried out over the phone—vishing—uses voice calls to trick you into revealing secrets or taking actions that compromise security. Attackers impersonate banks, tech support, or other trusted entities and often create a sense of urgency, fear, or authority to lower your guard. They may spoof caller IDs or use automated calls to reach many people, hoping you’ll disclose passwords, PINs, or account numbers or authorize transfers.

This differs from phishing via text messages (smishing), phishing by email, or phishing through social media, which rely on different communication channels to lure victims. To guard against vishing, verify the caller’s identity through official channels, never share sensitive information over the phone, and report suspicious calls.