Definition: vishing

(Voice phISHING) Also called "VoIP phishing," vishing is the voice counterpart to phishing. Instead of being directed by email to a website, an email message asks the user to make a phone call. The call triggers a voice response system that asks for the user's credit card number. The initial bait can also be a telephone call with a recording that instructs the user to phone an 800 number.

In either case, because people are used to entering credit card numbers over the phone, this technique can be effective. Voice over IP (VoIP) is used for vishing because caller IDs can be spoofed, and the entire operation can be brought up and taken down quickly. See phishing and VoIP.