How can you be sure that the person on the other end of a phone call is truly who they claim to be?
In July, a Ferrari executive received a flood of WhatsApp messages from a number he didn’t recognize but which seemed to be from Benedetto Vigna, the CEO of Ferrari. Unsure if the messages were genuinely from his boss, the executive proceeded with a call to the person claiming to be Vigna. Despite the caller’s southern Italian accent, which matched Vigna’s, the executive remained cautious. He asked a question about a topic they had discussed recently, something only the real CEO would know.
When the caller failed to provide the correct answer, the executive ended the call, potentially averting a major fraud attempt, as reported by Bloomberg earlier this year.
Don’t assume that such situations are rare. Scammers have been attempting to deceive people via phone calls since the invention of the telephone. Today, they use sophisticated voice AI tools to replicate someone’s voice and trick victims into believing they’re speaking with someone else.
These scams often involve receiving a phone call, during which scammers use pressure tactics to force quick and hasty actions from their targets. You might already be familiar with some of these scams.
Remember, law enforcement or federal agencies will not call you to say there’s a warrant for your arrest or to demand immediate payment to clear it. If there were a real warrant, they would come to your home rather than leave a threatening voicemail.
Similarly, it’s unlikely that your healthcare provider would call you to demand payment over the phone without first sending you a written notice. The FBI warns that healthcare fraud can come from scammers posing as healthcare providers or falsely claiming you owe money on a non-existent bill.
Be cautious of anyone claiming to be from your bank, workplace, or an online tech company asking you to “verify your personal information” or to provide a security code sent to your phone.
Instead of picking up the call immediately, let it ring and take time to verify the caller’s identity.
Scammers use increasingly sophisticated methods, such as phone number spoofing and AI-generated “deepfakes” to mimic voices. They may even pretend to be a distressed family member to elicit an urgent response. Even if you think you recognize the caller, it’s wise to trust your instincts and stay alert.
In the Ferrari case, the executive asked the caller about a specific book title they had discussed, which only the real CEO would know. On a smaller scale, friends and family can establish safe words or phrases to confirm each other’s identity during calls. Additionally, having a specific phrase for situations where someone might be under duress can help signal distress.
If you receive an unsolicited call asking for personal information, how can you verify the caller’s legitimacy? You may only have their phone number to go on, which might not be familiar.
If your bank claims to be calling you, use the number on your bank card to contact them directly.
For calls from organizations you recognize but which seem suspicious, hang up and visit the official website or app to find a verified contact number. Avoid relying on search engine results for customer service numbers, as scammers may manipulate search results.
If you get a call about a login attempt on your online account, go directly to the website or app to verify the situation before taking any further action. Most companies, like Google or Facebook, use their official customer support portals rather than calling you directly.
Be like the Ferrari executive: take a moment to think and take control of the situation. And next time your phone rings with an unknown number, consider letting it go to voicemail.
