Why phone calls can be risky
Many people still trust phone calls more than email or online chat. Scammers know this very well and try to use phone calls to obtain passwords, card numbers or other sensitive information.
Information you should never share by phone
- Login details for online banking or customer portals.
- One time SMS codes or codes from authentication apps.
- Full card number with expiry date and security code.
- Detailed information about your savings or investments.
Verifying who is calling you
- Ask for the full name of the caller and the department.
- Ask why exactly they are calling and what they need.
- End the call and call back using an official number from the website of the company.
Household security rules
It is a good idea to create simple rules for the whole family. For example that no one shares card numbers or passwords over the phone and that suspicious calls are always ended and verified later.
If you already shared some data
Contact your bank or service provider as soon as possible. Passwords can be changed and cards can be blocked, which often prevents financial loss or at least reduces it.