The National Informatics Centre (NIC) has issued a high-severity advisory to government officials, cautioning them against trusting caller ID information without proper verification. The warning comes in the wake of increasing “vishing” attacks, where cyber criminals impersonate trusted entities, such as senior government officials, law enforcement agencies, or technical support personnel, to acquire confidential information.
Vishing, or voice phishing, is a social engineering tactic that involves using phone calls or voice messages to manipulate individuals into disclosing sensitive data. In its advisory, the NIC stressed that attackers are increasingly manipulating caller ID information to create the illusion that the call is coming from a legitimate source. The advisory urges government officials to cross-check any callers claiming to represent an official agency using official records, as caller IDs can easily be spoofed.
According to the NIC, there has been a noticeable rise in vishing attacks targeting government personnel, often used to gain unauthorized access to official systems. The attackers commonly use high-pressure tactics, conveying a “sense of urgency” and coercing the target into revealing sensitive information. This is often coupled with “complex technical language” to confuse or intimidate the victims.
The advisory emphasized that government officials should verify the identity of callers through secure government channels before disclosing any confidential details. The NIC also urged vigilance, noting that vishing attacks have the potential to cause significant security breaches if sensitive information is shared with malicious actors.
As cybercriminals continue to evolve their methods, the NIC’s warning highlights the critical need for heightened awareness and caution when dealing with phone-based communications in official matters.
Sources By Agencies
