Vishing

Absa | Corporate and Investment Banking > Insights and Events > Vishing
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Vishing is a type of scam in which a fraudster makes a phone call while posing as a representative from the bank or other institution. The goal is to manipulate you into disclosing confidential personal or company information, making a payment, or installing a malicious app or program on your device.

How it happens and red flags to look out for

  • The fraudster will call you, pretending to be a bank representative or other authoritative person, who requires information such as your usernames, passwords, banking details and logon credentials to your online banking profile, to solve a problem or prevent your access from being revoked.
  • If you receive a message or an e-mail requesting you to provide an OTP to a transaction, without having made any transaction, it's likely that a fraudster has taken over your account..
  • Fraudsters create a sense of urgency or fear to pressure victims into acting quickly without thinking. For example, they might say your account is about to be blocked or that you'll face legal consequences if you don't provide information immediately.

How to respond and protect yourself or organisation

  • Be cautious of unsolicited calls, especially those asking for confidential and sensitive company information.
  • If you are unsure about a call, hang up and call the bank back directly using a known and trusted number.
  • Do not provide any confidential information such as PIN, passwords, or OTPs over the phone.

Reporting options

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