Using an updated version of the hacking known as ‘phreaking’, criminals are now targeting the phone systems of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the United States.

In the past few weeks America has suffered a spate of incidents all aimed at small businesses. The hackers hack into the phone systems and then call their targets, playing a pre-recorded message over the phone that encourages the customer to hand over bank details which are then used to create fake cards by the scammers. Phone system scamming was a problem a few years ago but with many customers now banking online, the internet is offering new opportunities for fraud. Worrying times.