Nice Try, Scammer: A Quick Guide to Phishing, Vishing and AI Impersonation

Think you’d never fall for a scam? Picture this - your inbox dings, your phone rings and a perfectly polite voice (or email) insists you urgently update your password, click a link, or wire money to “an important vendor.” Congratulations! You’ve just been invited to the Phish & Chips Buffet. Grab a napkin. Here’s how to leave before dessert.

Phishing: How Do You Know When “Your Bank” Isn’t Really Your Bank?

It usually starts with something innocent like an email that looks official. Maybe it’s your bank, a delivery service, or your favorite streaming platform claiming there’s a problem with your account. “Click here,” it says, “to verify your information” or “prevent suspension.” Sounds urgent, right? That’s the hook. This is phishing, the oldest trick in the cybercriminal playbook, and it still works because it preys on panic and trust.

How to dodge a phish:

• Hover Before You Click: Links can wear disguises. Always check the real URL before tapping.
• Spot the Slips: Typos, awkward grammar and logos that look a little “off” are red flags.
• No Attachments Allowed: Unexpected files from unknown senders? Delete first, ask questions later.
• Pause the Panic: Real companies don’t threaten instant account closure. Take a breath before you act.

Vishing: What If That “Local Call” Isn’t Local at All?

You see an unknown number pop up on your phone. The area code looks familiar — maybe it’s your doctor’s office or a new client. So, you answer, only to hear about your “expiring car warranty” or a mysterious inheritance that requires your bank info. This is vishing, short for voice phishing, and it’s on the rise. In fact, reported cases skyrocketed by more than 440% in a single year (CrowdStrike, 2025).

How to avoid getting hooked by a vish:

• Let It Ring: If you don’t recognize the number, let it roll to voicemail. Scammers thrive on impulse answers.
• Verify Elsewhere: If the caller claims to be from your bank, the IRS, or even your boss, hang up and call back using an official number you look up yourself.
• No Fast Cash: Be instantly suspicious of anyone asking for payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. Legitimate organizations won’t ask.
• Gut Check: If the FBI or the IRS really needed you, they wouldn’t cold-call your cell. Trust your instincts when something feels off.

AI Impersonation: What if “FaceTime” is Actually Fake Time?

AI is getting scary good at pretending to be people you know by cloning voices, mimicking writing styles, even faking video calls. That means “your boss,” “your spouse,” or “your IT help desk” might actually be a digital doppelgänger.

How to outsmart a synthetic scammer:

• Deepfake Double-Take: Don’t trust appearances alone. Be cautious when interacting digitally as voices and faces can be forged.
• Slow Down: Urgency is their weapon. If a request feels rushed or sensitive, ask the person to verify themselves in another way (like showing an ID badge on a separate video call).
• Up the Chain: When in doubt, escalate. Run sensitive requests past your manager or through official approval channels before acting.

So, How Do You Outsmart the Con?

Phishing, vishing and AI impersonation may be clever, but they all rely on the same formula: pressure plus panic equals payoff (for them). The best defense is slowing down, verifying independently and trusting your instincts when something feels “off.” Remember, your bank won’t demand gift cards, your boss won’t rush you to wire money and your loved one probably doesn’t need you to prove your love with crypto.

Stay sharp, stay skeptical and when in doubt, give every too-good-to-be-true request the response it deserves: “Nice try, scammer.”

Learn more about protecting your cybersecurity at https://business.sharpusa.com/Cybersecurity.