One of the most common questions spam callers ask is: “ Do you prefer drinking red or white wine?” The question seems harmless, but it hides a devious trick. We reported on it for the first time in 2021 !

Example of a current spam number used for these calls:

Example of a current spam number used for these calls:

What do callers mean when they ask “Do you prefer to drink red or white wine?”

Scammers' goal is to collect information that they can then use for various unfair purposes. The question about wine often serves as a conversation starter to gain the trust of the person being called and to obtain further personal information. It's also possible that the scammers are trying to sell expensive wine subscriptions by posing as legitimate wine retailers.

What is the stitch?

The tactic of these dubious callers is to build a personal relationship with the person they are calling, thereby gathering enough information to carry out their scams. The question of wine preference is just the beginning. As the conversation continues, scammers often try to ask for additional information, such as credit card information or personal information, that they can use to commit identity theft.

How can you protect yourself from such calls?


  1. Be skeptical : When you receive an unexpected call, always be skeptical, especially if the caller requests personal information from you.
  2. Don't give out personal information : Never give out personal or financial information over the phone unless you initiated the call yourself and know exactly who you are talking to.
  3. Use call blocking features : Most phones today have features that allow you to block certain numbers. If you repeatedly receive unsolicited calls, you should use these features.
  4. Report the call : If you receive such a call, report it to your local consumer protection agency. These authorities often have lists of known scam numbers and can recommend further security steps.
  5. Report the phone number! Report the number if you think it's a scammer! In Austria at RTR and in Germany at the Federal Network Agency

A scammer calls Mimikama…

We were also called ourselves in 2021 and started the conversation straight away!

Conclusion

The recent wave of dubious spam calls, hidden behind the innocuous-sounding question “Do you prefer red wine or white wine?”, reminds us of the importance of being vigilant and protecting your personal information. Skepticism, retaining personal information, using call blocking, and reporting calls are effective ways to protect yourself from such fraudulent practices.


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )