Siri Call Scam: An 82-Year-Old Woman’s Close Call with Fraud

Asking a voice assistant like Siri to call your credit card company seems mundane. You name the company, Siri finds a number, and the call starts. However, for Virginia, an 82-year-old from Concord, Massachusetts, this simple action almost led to a financial disaster. She intended to reach American Express but instead connected with a fake number. A conversation about a $1,000 credit soon escalated to $100,000 at her Bank of America account. Thankfully, Virginia realized the scam before transferring money.

How Scammers Exploit Siri Voice Commands

Virginia’s experience highlights how scams can exploit voice searches. Fake customer-service numbers may appear in voice searches, a threat documented by the Better Business Bureau. Scams like these remind us to consider how phone numbers are sourced before calling them.

The Scam Breakdown

Virginia shared her experience with CyberGuy to alert others. She asked Siri to call American Express, but the call connected to scammers. They managed to shift the conversation to her Bank of America account. Virginia was told to return a manipulated $100,000 “credit.” Fortunately, this inconsistency raised her suspicions.

Protect Yourself from Phone Call Scams

Here are steps to secure your finances against such scams:

• Use the phone number on your financial card.
• Hang up if the conversation takes an unexpected turn.
• Never transfer money to “protect” your account.
• Verify unexpected overpayments independently.
• Keep one-time security codes private.
• Do not install remote-access software at a stranger’s request.
• Install antivirus software on all your devices.
• Enable alerts on your financial accounts for unusual activity.
• Use strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication.
• Verify all unexpected account changes directly with your bank.
• Report incorrect business information on Siri or Apple Maps.

Steps if Scammed

If scammers access your accounts, act fast:

• Stop contact with the scammer immediately.
• Notify your bank using official contact information.
• Freeze affected accounts.
• Change compromised passwords.
• Remove any remote-access software installed at the scammer’s request.
• Freeze your credit if personal information is compromised.
• Report the fraud to authorities and banks quickly.
• Be wary of follow-up scams.

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson emphasizes the importance of checking financial phone numbers. Using the number on your card or app is more secure than relying on a voice search or online result. Virginia’s close call underscores not only the risks but also the power of intuition in recognizing scams.