Vishing: How Scam Calls & Robocalls Work
'Vishing' is phishing by phone — an overview of how scam calls and robocalls use authority, fear, and spoofed caller ID to pressure you into paying or sharing information.
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What this scam is
Vishing (voice + phishing) covers scam phone calls and robocalls impersonating your bank, the IRS, Social Security, tech support, a utility, or police. Caller ID is easily spoofed to look official. The caller uses urgency and fear (arrest, account compromise, shut-off) or a too-good offer to get you to pay — often by gift card, wire, or crypto — or to share codes, passwords, or remote access. Recognizing the tactics (spoofed ID, pressure, untraceable payment, secrecy) helps you hang up on any of them.
What it usually looks like
- A call/robocall claiming to be a bank, agency, or company.
- Urgency, threats, or a prize.
- Demands for gift cards, wire, or crypto.
- Requests for codes, passwords, or remote access.
Common warning signs
- Caller ID 'looks official' but pressures you.
- Payment demanded by gift card/wire/crypto.
- Being told to stay on the line or keep it secret.
- Requests for one-time codes or remote access.
Example wording scammers use
“This is the IRS/Social Security/your bank — there's a serious problem, don't hang up.”
“Press 1 to speak with an agent about your account.”
These are illustrative examples written by ScamSplain, not real messages.
What the scammers want
- Untraceable payment or your credentials/access.
- To exploit fear and authority.
- To keep you on the line.
What to do
- Hang up and call the organization back on a number you look up yourself.
- No real agency/company demands gift cards, wire, or crypto.
- Never share one-time codes, passwords, or grant remote access.
- Let unknown calls go to voicemail; report robocalls.
What to do if you already responded
- Contact the affected company/bank and change any shared credentials.
- Contact gift-card/wire/crypto providers if you paid.
- Report at reportfraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov.