The New Face of Phishing: When Scammers Use Human Voices
I got a voicemail recently that didn’t sound like a robocall.
It was two people talking. One said, “He doesn’t want to talk.”
The other replied, “No, he said…” and then it cut off.
It felt like I had accidentally overheard a conversation I wasn’t meant to hear, which is exactly the point.
This wasn’t a random butt-dial. It is a social engineering tactic. Scammers are getting smarter, using snippets of real-sounding conversations to trigger curiosity and make you call back. Once you do, you are often connected to a live operator or automated trap that can:
- Confirm your number is active (so you get targeted more)
- Try to draw out personal or company information
- Redirect you to a phishing or billing scam
This is the voice version of phishing, and it is becoming more common because our defenses are tuned for email, not voicemail.
Here’s what to remember:
- Do not call back unknown numbers just because a voicemail sounds real.
- Verify through official channels, not callbacks.
- Remind your team that awareness applies across all communication channels.
- Report suspicious calls to your IT or cybersecurity provider.
At Creative Consultants Group, Inc. (CCG Nashville), we believe cybersecurity is not just about technology. It is about understanding how people are manipulated and helping organizations build stronger defenses. Visit us at ccgnashville.com to learn more about our security awareness training and IT services.
Have you received one of these strange “overheard conversation” voicemails lately?
#Cybersecurity #SocialEngineering #SecurityAwareness #Leadership #CCGNashville #PhishingPrevention
