BDO Unibank has issued a warning to the public about “vishing” or voice phishing scams, where scammers call and impersonate bank representatives or agency officials to obtain sensitive information from the victim, such as bank account details.
The scammer calls the victim, pretending to be from a government agency, a bank, or sends a text or message to encourage the victim to call back themselves.
To appear legitimate, scammers use information about the victim’s account, like credit card or bank account details. They may obtain this information from improperly disposed documents or posts made by the victim on social media. Some scammers even join social media groups related to bank accounts to find potential victims.
Scammers often use scare tactics or speak quickly to be more convincing. They commonly use phrases like “your account has been hacked,” “there’s a problem with your account,” “Congrats! You’ve won…,” or mention a “Special Offer that’s only valid today!” Sometimes, they may urge the victim to activate a “reward” at an ATM.
The longer the conversation goes on, the higher the likelihood the scammer can convince the victim. They urge the victim to provide sensitive details such as the Card Verification Value (CVV) of a credit card, the username and password of an online bank account, a One-Time PIN (OTP), or click on a link sent by the scammer.
Often, they use intimidation and a sense of urgency to pressure the victim into giving up their information. To avoid falling victim to these scams, the public is advised to stay calm, avoid believing calls or messages from unknown numbers, and verify information directly through the bank’s official hotline.