Be skeptical of phone calls claiming to be from officials

Phone-based phishing (vishing) is rising sharply. Scammers impersonate IRS agents, bank fraud departments, tech support, or law enforcement. They use caller ID spoofing to display legitimate-looking numbers. If someone calls claiming urgency, hang up and call the organization directly using their official number.

Why It Works

The "hang up and call back" rule defeats all phone scams because you initiate the connection to the verified number. Scammers can spoof incoming calls but cannot intercept your outbound call to the real organization.

Tips

• The IRS never calls to demand immediate payment or threaten arrest
• Banks never ask for your full password or PIN over the phone
• Tech companies never call unsolicited about viruses on your computer
• If a caller pressures you to stay on the line or not hang up, that is itself a red flag