Smartphones can be used for much more than just receiving calls, can’t they? The possibilities are endless, but they are also being used by cybercriminals with increasingly sophisticated techniques to commit fraud. This type of fraud is called Vishing.
In the digital age, protecting our personal information is more important than ever. Cybercriminals who perpetrate phone scams (or vishing) often obtain their victims’ personal information from a variety of sources, such as social networks, unsecured websites or even leaked databases. Understanding information security practices and taking steps to protect your personal information is essential to protecting your privacy. This includes using strong, unique passwords for all your online accounts, being cautious about sharing personal information online, and avoiding clicking on links or opening suspicious email or text message attachments.
Identity theft (Phishing) is a common technique used by cybercriminals in phone scams. They impersonate other entities to trick victims into revealing sensitive personal or financial information. To avoid becoming a victim of Phishing, it is important to look out for red flags such as unsolicited calls or text messages requesting personal or financial information, spelling or grammar errors in communications, and links or websites that appear unprofessional or do not match the branding of the legitimate entity.
Sometimes they can impersonate public bodies, large companies and even financial institutions. They use techniques to make phone calls and text messages look like they were made by the Bank itself, thereby gaining our trust and making us fall for the scam.
You may also receive a call from someone claiming to be a Bank manager, warning you of a fraudulent operation and asking you to provide information or even make financial transactions. They may do this from a phone number you do not know, or they may use identity theft techniques to display our phone number. Even if they give you personal information about themselves, be careful; they may have found it on the Internet. We may call you if we detect a suspicious operation, but we will NEVER ask you to initiate or sign a financial transaction as a result. Here are five recommendations to help you avoid these types of threats.
5 tips to dodge cybercriminals
- Calls? Be on the alert
We will never ask you to make or sign a transaction that you wouldn’t want to initiate. Neither will we call you conveying a sense of urgency or asking you for personal codes, passwords, etc.
- Only download applications from your store
If you receive a text message asking you to download an application, ignore it. The only reliable source for downloading apps is your App Store for iOS or Play Store for Android.
- Beware of SMS that contain links
Even if the sender of the message seems trustworthy, check the URL carefully and don’t click on the link or provide any sensitive information on the destination page.
- Keep your data under lock and key
Don’t give out passwords, keys, codes or personal or financial information such as your card details.
- If you are unsure about the security of your accounts, contact us
We are at your service 24 hours a day through our usual channels. We remind you that our Customer Service and Phishing team is available every day of the year on +34 963 085 000 and via social networks.
