Phishing and vishing attacks increased to a record number in the first quarter of 2022, surpassing 1 million. Not surprisingly, the financial sector accounts for the highest number of phishing attacks, representing 23.6 percent of all attacks.
As of March 2022, companies experienced 1,025,968 phishing attacks, according to the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG). The second-highest number of attacks came through webmail and software-as-a-service providers. Additionally, scammers targeted social media, e-commerce and retail. Furtrer, they also targeted cryptocurrency exchanges and wallet providers.
Similarly, the report found that scammers targeted payment, logistics, and shipping companies, accounting for 5.0% and 3.8% of phishing and vishing attacks, respectively.
Why are phishing and vishing attacks so popular?
Users lack awareness of security issues. The main reason for the success of these attacks is a lack of employee training on phishing, vishing, and ransomware.
Vishing is short for voice phishing. It involves defrauding people over the video, enticing them to leak sensitive company data. In this definition, the attacker attempts to gain access to the victim’s data to gain a financial advantage.
Identification badges, driver’s licenses, and access cards are easier to show over video. It’s easy. According to the latest Quarterly Threat Trends & Intelligence Report. by 2022, almost 550 percent more cases will be experienced by companies.
Stop phishing and vishing in its tracks
Naturally, defending against phishing and vishing attacks begins with the employee.
First, whenever you receive an unexpected message, especially involving invoices, be alert.
Second, watch for phishing cues, such as many links in an email.
Third, inconsistencies with names, addresses, or email addresses.
Finally, the phone number or video link. If it doesn’t match up to any business numbers, it’s fake.
To register a fraud event, contact the Fraud Reporting System (Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre) or call toll-free at 1-888-495-8501. You can file a misleading or deceptive marketing report using the online complaint form with the Competition Bureau
