Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

“Voice Phishing” ESL Discussion Questions

I. Understanding Voice Phishing
1. What is voice phishing?
2. How does voice phishing differ from regular phishing?
3. Can you explain why voice phishing is dangerous?
4. What kind of information do voice phishers usually ask for?
5. Have you ever received a suspicious phone call that could have been voice phishing?

II. Recognizing Voice Phishing Attempts
6. What are some signs of a voice phishing call?
7. How can you tell if a caller is a voice phisher?
8. Why do voice phishers often pretend to be from banks or government agencies?
9. What should you do if you receive a call from someone asking for personal information?
10. Is it safe to provide your personal information if the caller has some of your details already?

III. The Tactics of Voice Phishers
11. Why do voice phishers use pressure tactics?
12. How do voice phishers make their calls seem legitimate?
13. What kind of language do voice phishers use to trick people?
14. Why might a voice phisher ask you to act quickly?
15. Can voice phishers manipulate caller ID to appear legitimate?

IV. Protecting Yourself from Voice Phishing
16. How can you protect yourself from voice phishing?
17. What steps should you take if you suspect a call is a voice phishing attempt?
18. Why is it important not to share personal information over the phone?
19. What should you do with the phone number that a voice phisher used to call you?
20. Can registering your phone number on a “Do Not Call” list prevent voice phishing calls?

V. The Impact of Voice Phishing
21. How does voice phishing affect individuals?
22. What are the consequences of falling for a voice phishing scam?
23. Can voice phishing lead to identity theft?
24. How does voice phishing impact businesses?
25. What can be done to reduce the impact of voice phishing on society?

VI. Reporting Voice Phishing
26. Who should you report a voice phishing attempt to?
27. Why is it important to report voice phishing calls?
28. What information should you provide when reporting a voice phishing call?
29. Can law enforcement track down voice phishers?
30. What challenges do authorities face in combating voice phishing?

VII. The Role of Technology in Voice Phishing
31. How do voice phishers use technology to their advantage?
32. What is spoofing, and how does it relate to voice phishing?
33. Can voice recognition software help prevent voice phishing?
34. How might artificial intelligence be used in voice phishing scams in the future?
35. Are there any apps or tools that can help identify voice phishing calls?

VIII. Voice Phishing Around the World
36. Is voice phishing a problem in many countries?
37. How do voice phishing techniques vary from country to country?
38. Are there any countries known for originating a lot of voice phishing scams?
39. How do international laws affect the fight against voice phishing?
40. What can countries do to cooperate in preventing voice phishing?

IX. Education and Awareness
41. Why is education important in preventing voice phishing?
42. How can people learn more about voice phishing?
43. What role do banks and financial institutions play in educating their customers about voice phishing?
44. How can schools and communities raise awareness about voice phishing?
45. What resources are available for teaching about voice phishing?

X. Personal Experiences with Voice Phishing
46. Have you or someone you know ever been targeted by a voice phisher?
47. How did you or they realize it was a scam?
48. What was the outcome of the voice phishing attempt?
49. How did the experience of voice phishing affect you or them?
50. What lessons were learned from the experience with voice phishing?

XI. The Future of Voice Phishing
51. Do you think voice phishing will become more common in the future?
52. How might advances in technology affect the prevalence of voice phishing?
53. What can individuals do to prepare for more sophisticated voice phishing scams?
54. How can companies and organizations stay ahead of voice phishers?
55. What predictions can you make about the future tactics of voice phishers?

XII. Miscellaneous Questions
56. How does voice phishing compare to email phishing in terms of effectiveness?
57. Can voice phishing be automated, and if so, how?
58. What are the psychological tactics used by voice phishers to convince their victims?
59. How does the time of day affect the success rate of voice phishing calls?
60. What should you do if you accidentally give out personal information to a voice phisher?