What is Vishing?
Voice phishing, or “vishing” is using fraudulent phone calls to trick people into providing personal information, money, or otherwise sensitive information. In many cases, a person pretends to be an official or representative of a company or governmental organization and tells a story about a problem or offers a service that’s too good to be true. They then ask you to provide credit card information directly or lead you to Venmo or other credit card payment platforms to process a payment. A common practice in these types of scams is that the caller attempts to create a sense of urgency by stating that you must do something immediately and if you don’t there will be some sort of penalty.
Tips to Protect Yourself:
In light of these incidents, we encourage all parents and students to remain vigilant and take the following steps to protect themselves from voice phishing:
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Verify Caller Identity: If a caller claims to be from a company, school, or governmental organization, hang up and use a trusted number to contact that organization directly to verify the information. Do not rely on the Caller ID information as this can be easily faked. If you find that the call was fraudulent, you can report it to the company and others.
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Don’t Give Out Any Financial Information: Pace University personnel will NEVER demand credit card information over the phone and/or suggest that you pay for services with gift cards, Venmo, or similar services. Do not provide the caller with credit card information, or send payment of any form.
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Be Skeptical of Urgency: Phishers often create a sense of urgency to pressure individuals into providing information. Be cautious of unexpected calls demanding immediate action and take time to assess the situation.
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Educate Yourself: Stay informed about common phishing tactics and familiarize yourself with the methods scammers use to manipulate individuals. More information about detecting phone scams, and what to do if you fall prey, are available on the Federal Trade Commission’s Phone Scam website.
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Report Suspicious Calls: If you receive a suspicious call related to Pace University, report it to Pace’s Office of Safety and Security immediately. Your reports help us in our ongoing efforts to enhance campus security.
If you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to contact the appropriate campus security office. Your safety is of utmost importance to us, and we appreciate your cooperation in taking these precautionary measures. Together, we can create a secure and supportive environment for everyone in the Pace Community.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
