- A
Phishing
Why wrong: Phishing typically uses email or text messages, not a direct phone call. The attack vector here was a voice call, making vishing the more precise term.
- B
Vishing
Vishing (voice phishing) uses phone calls to impersonate legitimate organizations and trick victims into revealing sensitive information or installing malware. This scenario perfectly matches that description.
- C
Smishing
Why wrong: Smishing uses SMS text messages, not phone calls. The attack here was initiated via a phone call, not a text.
- D
Shoulder surfing
Why wrong: Shoulder surfing involves looking over someone's shoulder to obtain information, such as passwords. This scenario involves a phone call and remote access, not direct observation.
Question 257 of 750
Vishing: Voice Phishing Attacks
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of social engineering attacks. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A user calls the help desk, frantic because their banking app shows an unauthorized transfer of $500. They say they received a call earlier from 'bank security' asking them to install a remote access tool to 'verify their account'. What type of social engineering attack did the user fall victim to?
Quick Answer
The correct answer is vishing, as this attack specifically used a phone call to deceive the user. Vishing, or voice phishing, is a social engineering technique where an attacker impersonates a trusted entity over the phone to manipulate a victim into revealing sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security. In this scenario, the attacker posed as bank security and convinced the user to install remote access software, which directly enabled the unauthorized transfer. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish vishing from other phishing variants like smishing (SMS) or spear phishing (targeted email). A common trap is confusing vishing with a simple tech support scam, but the key identifier is the voice call as the attack vector. To remember, think of “V” for voice and “vishing” — if a voice is on the line demanding remote access, it’s vishing every time.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Vishing
The user received a phone call (voice channel) and was tricked into installing remote access software, which is the hallmark of vishing (voice phishing). Unlike phishing, which uses email or malicious links, vishing exploits telephone systems and social engineering to gain unauthorized access or sensitive information.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Phishing
Why it's wrong here
Phishing typically uses email or text messages, not a direct phone call. The attack vector here was a voice call, making vishing the more precise term.
- ✓
Vishing
Why this is correct
Vishing (voice phishing) uses phone calls to impersonate legitimate organizations and trick victims into revealing sensitive information or installing malware. This scenario perfectly matches that description.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Smishing
Why it's wrong here
Smishing uses SMS text messages, not phone calls. The attack here was initiated via a phone call, not a text.
- ✗
Shoulder surfing
Why it's wrong here
Shoulder surfing involves looking over someone's shoulder to obtain information, such as passwords. This scenario involves a phone call and remote access, not direct observation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA A+ 220-1202 often tests the distinction between vishing and phishing by emphasizing the communication medium (voice call vs. email), so candidates mistakenly choose phishing when the attack vector is a phone call rather than a digital message.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Shoulder surfing involves looking over someone's shoulder to obtain information, such as passwords. This scenario involves a phone call and remote access, not direct observation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Vishing attacks often leverage VoIP (Voice over IP) to spoof caller ID numbers, making the call appear legitimate (e.g., from the bank's official number). The attacker may use a remote access tool like TeamViewer or AnyDesk to gain full control of the victim's device, bypassing multi-factor authentication by viewing the screen or intercepting one-time codes in real time.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Social Engineering Attacks — This question tests Social Engineering Attacks — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Vishing — The user received a phone call (voice channel) and was tricked into installing remote access software, which is the hallmark of vishing (voice phishing). Unlike phishing, which uses email or malicious links, vishing exploits telephone systems and social engineering to gain unauthorized access or sensitive information.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 220-1202 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1202 exam.
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