This week, cybercriminals are targeting users through suspicious phone calls—a tactic known as vishing (voice phishing). Here’s how it works:

You receive an unexpected call on WhatsApp from an unknown number. When you answer, a robotic voice tells you to add a different phone number to your WhatsApp contacts. Before you can ask questions or get more information, the call ends.

It might seem odd, but not dangerous. Unfortunately, this is a trap.

Scammers use this tactic to test whether you’re likely to follow instructions. If you add the number, you’re marked as a potential target. Soon after, the scammers may reach out again—this time trying to trick you into giving up your verification code. If they succeed, they can hijack your account, impersonate you, and even demand money to give it back. Worse yet, they might use your account to scam your contacts.

Protect yourself with these smart steps:

• Don’t add unknown numbers to your contacts, especially when asked out of the blue.

• Enable two-step verification on WhatsApp to add an extra layer of security.

• Block and report suspicious callers immediately. This not only protects you—it helps protect others, too.

Stay alert and think twice before trusting unexpected messages or calls—even if they seem harmless at first.

The Vista Bank Security Team