SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/secplus-vishing-voice

Phishing carried out over a phone call is commonly called what?

Vishing, voice phishing.

Start playing free

  1. Smishing
  2. Vishing ✔
  3. Whaling

Why: Attackers call pretending to be a bank, vendor or help desk and press you to act fast. Hang up and call back using a number you know is real.

Huh, didn't know that: MITRE ATT&CK tracks this as sub-technique T1566.004, Spearphishing Voice.

The dad joke
The scammer called to say my car warranty had a problem. My phone said the problem was his number.
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: Vishing. Attackers call pretending to be a bank, vendor or help desk and press you to act fast. Hang up and call back using a number you know is real.

  1. United States Postal Inspection Service: Vishing www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/vishing
    Vishing, short for voice phishing, is an identity fraud scam utilizing a phone call or voicemail.
    Checked 2026-10-11.
  2. MITRE ATT&CK T1566.004, Spearphishing Voice attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/004
    T1566.004 | Spearphishing Voice
    Checked 2026-10-11.
  3. Federal Trade Commission Glossary: Smishing www.ftc.gov/news-events/topics/glossary-scams-legal-terms
    Short for "SMS phishing," smishing often involves text messages
    Checked 2026-10-11.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

Test yourself in the game

Security & PrivacyTricking a person into revealing information or taking a harmful action is called what?Security & PrivacyWhat is phishing called when it targets a specific person, company or industry?Security & PrivacyCompromising a website that a target group often visits, to infect them, is called what?

That's stuff everyone should know.