Michigan

Protect your phone number from cybercriminals

Caradoc Wyn August 17, 2024

In today’s digital landscape, online scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with cybercriminals using voice calls and messaging apps to deceive unsuspecting victims.

Techniques such as voice phishing (vishing) and SMS phishing (smishing) have become a lucrative industry, with fraudsters operating call centers that generate billions of dollars worldwide.

These scams require minimal technical skills, so even a single person can target multiple victims at once. The various tactics used include “pig slaughter” (a scam in which a scammer builds a relationship with a victim to eventually extort large sums of money), cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, and tech support hoaxes. Each scam is equipped with a convincing story and bait to lure victims.

Hello? Does this thing work?

Imagine receiving a call from someone pretending to be your bank, warning you that your account has been compromised. The urgency in the caller’s voice might prompt you to share sensitive information, only to later discover that the caller is not from your bank at all. While this type of scam is common, it has become even more sophisticated with the use of AI-generated voice technology.

In 2019, cybercriminals used AI to imitate the voice of a company executive and successfully stole nearly $250,000 from a CEO. In another case, they stole $25 million from a company by mimicking a video call with a finance employee. AI-powered voice spoofing and real-time translation have made vishing and smishing easier than ever, lowering the barriers for new malicious actors.

What’s your name? What’s your number?

According to a 2022 Consumer Reports survey, 75% of respondents expressed concerns about the online collection of their data, including their phone numbers, which are critical for identification and targeted advertising.

As traditional directories like the Yellow Pages have become obsolete, data collection through online tracking has increased. This has led to a thriving data trading industry in which personal information, including phone numbers, is collected and sold without the need for hacking.

Data brokers collect personal information from public records, commercial sources, and online tracking, then sell it to others, including malicious actors. Cybercriminals can obtain phone numbers from public social media profiles, stolen accounts, automated dialers, or even the mail and use them to conduct targeted scams.

How do you protect your phone number?

To protect your phone number from cybercriminals, cybersecurity experts recommend being wary of phishing attacks. Do not answer unexpected calls or messages from unknown numbers and never click on random links in emails or SMS. If you are contacted by a bank or company, insist on calling back using their official number.

Also, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts, preferably using security keys, authenticator apps, or biometric methods rather than SMS, as SMS can be easily intercepted.

Governments also offer services like the Do Not Call Registry to reduce unwanted commercial calls. Finally, be careful where you share your phone number online and consider alternative methods of account recovery, such as using an additional email address or an authenticator app.

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