A customer's hand inserting a debit card into an ATM machine

Spear Phishing Scammers Want More From You

By Lisa Lake, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

โ€œIโ€™m calling from [pick any bank]. Someoneโ€™s been using your debit card ending in 2345 at [pick any retailer]. Iโ€™ll need to verify your Social Security number โ€” which ends in 8190, right? โ€” and full debit card information so we can stop this unauthorized activityโ€ฆโ€

So the caller ID shows the name of your bank. And the caller knows some of your personal details. Does that mean itโ€™s legit? No. Itโ€™s a scam โ€” and scammers are counting on the call being so unsettling that you might not stop to check your bank statement.

Weโ€™ve started hearing about phone scams like this, which combine two scammer tricks: spear phishing and caller ID spoofing. In a phishing attempt, scammers may make it look like theyโ€™re from a legitimate company. And when they call or email with specific details about you โ€” asking you to verify the information in full (things like your Social Security number or address) โ€” thatโ€™s called spear phishing.

The other nasty wrinkle in this scam is caller ID spoofing. Thatโ€™s when scammers fake their caller ID to trick you into thinking the call is from someone you trust.

Hereโ€™s how you can avoid these scam tactics:

Donโ€™t assume your caller ID is proof of whom youโ€™re dealing with. Scammers can make it look like theyโ€™re calling from a company or number you trust.
If you get a phone call, email, or text from someone asking for your personal information, donโ€™t respond. Instead, check it out using contact info you know is correct.
Donโ€™t trust someone just because they have personal information about you. Scammers have ways of getting that information.
If you gave a scammer your information, go to IdentityTheft.gov. Youโ€™ll learn what to do if the scammer made charges on your accounts.
Even if you didnโ€™t give personal information to the scammer, report the scam to the FTC. Your reports help us understand whatโ€™s happening and can lead to investigations and legal action to shut scammers down.

Content: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/10/spear-phishing-scammers-want-more-you?utm_source=govdelivery