Callback Phishing
Hey there! Im Lilly, a 24-year-old blogger, and today were diving into the topic of callback phishing. Maybe youve heard the term and are wondering what exactly is callback phishing and why should I care Dont worry, Ive got you covered!
Callback phishing is a type of social engineering attack where a hacker tricks you into dialing a phone number that seems legitimate, but in reality, its a trap. The attacker could be pretending to be from a company you trust, like your bank or a tech support service, and theyll try to convince you to call them back. When you dial that number, youre actually connecting to the attackers system, and they can steal sensitive information or install malware on your device. Its kind of like a scam phone call but way sneakier.
Heres why this is something you should pay attention to its becoming more common as cybercriminals find more creative ways to exploit trust. You may be wondering, Why would anyone fall for that Honestly, with how advanced technology is these days, were all more connected than everand that means hackers can use that connection to manipulate people. Think of it like this its like the classic scam from the ’90s when someone called you saying youve won a prize, but now theyve moved to a much more sophisticated playbook.
To help you understand better, let me break it down with some examples
- Example 1 You receive an email or text from your bank saying your account has been compromised, and you need to call a number to confirm your identity. You dial the number, and suddenly, your bank account is drained. Thats callback phishing.
- Example 2 Imagine you get a voicemail from a tech support agent saying that your computer has a virus. The voicemail includes a callback number for immediate assistance, but the person on the other end is actually a hacker who just wants access to your personal data. Again, callback phishing at play.
So now that were clear on what callback phishing is, here are some tips to avoid falling victim to it
- Dont trust unsolicited calls or messages Whether its from a bank or a tech company, always double-check before calling any numbers provided.
- Look for red flags If the message seems urgent or too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers will often create a sense of urgency to pressure you into taking action.
- Use official numbers If you need to contact a company, use their official customer service number from their websitenot the one in the message.
- Enable two-factor authentication If a hacker does get access to your account, two-factor authentication can act as a lifesaver by adding an extra layer of security.
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