Danger Zone: The Telephone

Identity Theft Protection

The telephone is one of the most often used sources for criminal activity. Here’s how it works. Your phone rings. The caller claims to be from your financial institution, or any other source. They begin asking questions about you and your account. This could be a telephone scam called Vishing. Someone is attempting to steal your identity. And it happens to millions of Americans every year. 

Protect yourself from telephone scams

Follow these steps to protect yourself from most types of identity theft telephone scams:

• Never offer personal or account information over the phone without verifying the caller’s identity.
• If you are uncertain of the identity of a caller, hang up and initiate the call yourself using a known phone number.
• Do not call any phone number received in a voice message or email asking for personal information. It could lead you to a phony answering system.

As a general guideline, be highly suspicious anytime you are requested to provide personal information over the phone.