In recent years, cybercriminals have become increasingly sophisticated in their attempts to steal personal and confidential information. One such tactic is known as a "voice mail phishing attack," which involves using social engineering techniques to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information over the phone.

In a voice mail phishing attack, the attacker will typically leave a message that appears to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank, government agency, or other trusted organization. The message will often contain urgent or alarming information, such as a notification of fraudulent activity on the recipient's account or a warning of imminent legal action.

The attacker will then provide a phone number or email address for the recipient to contact in order to address the issue. However, this contact information will lead the victim to a fraudulent website or call center, where they will be asked to provide personal or financial information that can be used for identity theft or fraud.

Voice mail phishing attacks can be difficult to detect, as they often appear to be legitimate at first glance. However, there are several red flags that individuals can watch out for, such as requests for sensitive information over the phone or email, unsolicited messages or calls, and suspicious URLs or email addresses.

To protect against voice mail phishing attacks, it is important to be cautious when responding to unsolicited messages or calls, and to verify the authenticity of any requests for sensitive information. It is also important to keep software and antivirus programs up to date, and to use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication to protect personal and financial accounts.

what is voice mail phishing attack ?

Voice mail phishing, also known as "vishing," is a type of phishing attack where an attacker uses a phone call or a voicemail message to trick victims into revealing sensitive information such as login credentials, credit card details, or personal identification numbers (PINs).

In a voice mail phishing attack, the attacker may impersonate a legitimate organization or company and leave a voicemail message for the victim, claiming that there is a problem with their account and asking them to call back to resolve the issue. The attacker may provide a fake phone number for the victim to call, which leads to a fake automated voice system that prompts the victim to enter their personal information.

Alternatively, the attacker may use a phone call to impersonate a representative of a legitimate organization or company and persuade the victim to reveal their personal information over the phone.

Voice mail phishing attacks can be highly effective because they rely on social engineering techniques to exploit the victim's trust and induce them to reveal sensitive information. To protect themselves from voice mail phishing attacks, users should be cautious when receiving unsolicited calls or voicemail messages and verify the legitimacy of the organization or company before providing any personal information.

How Voice Mail Phishing Attacks Work?

Voice mail phishing, also known as "vishing," is a type of phishing attack that uses social engineering tactics to trick victims into revealing sensitive information over the phone. In a voice mail phishing attack, the attacker will typically leave a voicemail message that appears to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank, a government agency, or a company.

The message will usually be urgent and will ask the recipient to call back immediately to resolve an issue with their account. The attacker may also use techniques to make the message sound more convincing, such as spoofing the caller ID to make it look like the call is coming from a legitimate source.

Once the victim calls back the number provided in the message, they may be directed to an automated system that prompts them to enter their account information, such as their account number, password, or PIN. The system may sound legitimate, with prompts that mimic those used by the real company or organization. However, the system is actually a fake created by the attacker, and the information entered by the victim is captured by the attacker.

With the victim's account information in hand, the attacker can then use it to gain access to the victim's accounts, steal their identity, or carry out other fraudulent activities. In some cases, the attacker may also use the information to impersonate the victim and carry out further vishing attacks on their contacts.

To protect yourself from voice mail phishing attacks, it's important to be cautious when receiving unsolicited calls or messages asking for sensitive information. If you receive a voice mail message that seems suspicious, do not call back the number provided in the message. Instead, call the company or organization directly using a phone number that you know is legitimate, and ask them if they were trying to reach you.

Additionally, it's a good idea to enable two-factor authentication on your accounts, which requires you to provide a second form of verification, such as a code sent to your phone, before you can access your account. This can help prevent attackers from gaining access to your accounts even if they have obtained your login information through a voice mail phishing attack.

Protecting Yourself from Voice Mail Phishing Attacks:

• Be wary of unsolicited voice mail messages: If you receive a voice mail message from an unknown caller or an unexpected source, be cautious. Do not assume that the message is legitimate, and do not provide any sensitive information in response.
• Verify the identity of the caller: If the voice mail message appears to be from a company or organization that you do business with, verify the identity of the caller before providing any information. Call the company or organization using a phone number that you know is legitimate, and ask if they were trying to reach you.
• Never provide sensitive information over the phone: Never provide sensitive information, such as your account number, password, or PIN, over the phone, unless you are absolutely certain that the caller is legitimate. Legitimate companies and organizations will never ask you to provide sensitive information over the phone unless you have initiated the call.
• Enable two-factor authentication: Enable two-factor authentication on your accounts whenever possible. Two-factor authentication requires you to provide a second form of verification, such as a code sent to your phone, before you can access your account. This can help prevent attackers from gaining access to your accounts even if they have obtained your login information through a voice mail phishing attack.
• Keep your software up to date: Keep your computer and mobile device software up to date with the latest security updates and patches. This can help prevent attackers from exploiting known vulnerabilities in your software to gain access to your accounts.
• Use anti-virus and anti-malware software: Use anti-virus and anti-malware software on your computer and mobile devices. These programs can help detect and prevent malicious software, such as keyloggers or spyware, from stealing your sensitive information.

Examples and Evidence:

1. In 2021, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a warning about a new wave of vishing attacks targeting remote workers. The attacks involved scammers leaving voicemail messages that appeared to be from IT support staff, asking workers to call back and provide their login credentials. (source: FBI warning)
2. In 2020, researchers at cybersecurity firm Check Point identified a new vishing campaign that targeted employees at a major financial institution. The attackers left voicemail messages that appeared to be from the institution's helpdesk, asking employees to call back and provide their login credentials. (source: Check Point report)
3. In 2019, a group of scammers was arrested in the United Kingdom for carrying out a vishing campaign that targeted elderly and vulnerable individuals. The scammers posed as bank employees and left voicemail messages asking victims to call back and provide their account information. (source: BBC News)
4. In 2018, security researchers at Cisco identified a vishing campaign that targeted customers of a major bank in Brazil. The attackers left voicemail messages that appeared to be from the bank, asking customers to call back and provide their account information. (source: Cisco report)
5. In 2017, a group of scammers was arrested in the United States for carrying out a vishing campaign that targeted customers of a major bank. The scammers left voicemail messages that appeared to be from the bank, asking customers to call back and provide their account information. (source: CNBC News)
6. In 2016, a vishing campaign was discovered that targeted customers of a major telecommunications company in the United States. The attackers left voicemail messages that appeared to be from the company, asking customers to call back and provide their account information. (source: KrebsOnSecurity)
7. In 2015, security researchers at Symantec identified a vishing campaign that targeted customers of a major healthcare company. The attackers left voicemail messages that appeared to be from the company, asking customers to call back and provide their personal information. (source: Symantec report)
8. In 2014, a vishing campaign was discovered that targeted customers of a major online retailer. The attackers left voicemail messages that appeared to be from the retailer, asking customers to call back and provide their account information. (source: The Register)

steps to take to be safe:

1. Be cautious: If you receive a voicemail message that seems suspicious, do not call back the number provided in the message. Instead, call the company or organization directly using a phone number that you know is legitimate, and ask them if they were trying to reach you.
2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring a second form of verification, such as a code sent to your phone, before you can access your account. This can help prevent attackers from gaining access to your accounts even if they have obtained your login information through a voice mail phishing attack.
3. Keep your personal information private: Be careful about sharing personal information on social media or other public platforms. Attackers may use this information to make their voice mail phishing attacks more convincing.
4. Update your passwords: Use strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts, and update them regularly. This can help prevent attackers from gaining access to your accounts even if they have obtained your login information through a voice mail phishing attack.
5. Use anti-virus software: Anti-virus software can help protect your computer and mobile devices from malware that may be used to carry out voice mail phishing attacks.
6. Stay informed: Keep up to date on the latest scams and phishing tactics, and be wary of any unsolicited calls or messages asking for sensitive information.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, voice mail phishing attacks are a significant and growing threat in the digital age. With the increasing prevalence of automated voice mail systems and the ease of spoofing caller ID, it has become easier for attackers to carry out these types of scams.The consequences of falling victim to a voice mail phishing attack can be severe, including the loss of sensitive information, financial loss, and even identity theft.

At digiALERT, we take the security of our clients seriously. We provide a range of services and tools to help protect against voice mail phishing attacks, including employee training on how to identify and avoid these scams, network monitoring to detect suspicious activity, and security software to block known phishing sites.We also work closely with our clients to develop customized security plans tailored to their specific needs and risks. By working together, we can help protect against voice mail phishing attacks and other types of cyber threats, keeping our clients' information and assets safe and secure.