$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Multi-channel phishing scams
email then phone call combo scam
Scammers send a phishing email followed by a phone call referencing the email to add legitimacy, pressuring the victim into acting on the fraudulent request.
“phishing scam”
↑ 700%Key indicators
Usually targetsBusiness professionals
Often hitsTech workers and developers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers send a phishing email about a billing issue, security alert, or account problem.
2
Within hours, they call the victim referencing the email, making it seem like a legitimate follow-up.
3
The phone call adds authority and urgency, significantly increasing the chance the victim clicks the link or provides information.
What to do first
Treat unsolicited phone calls that reference emails as suspicious — hang up and call the organization directly using their official number.
Related terms
callback phishinghybrid email-phone scamdual-channel social engineeringMulti-channel phishing scamsMultipleSurgingBusiness professionalsAll consumersTech workers and developersOnline shoppersUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadacallback phishinghybrid email-phone scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Christopher, 35, a business professionals, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate multi-channel phishing scams situation online. Scammers send a phishing email about a billing issue, security alert, or account problem.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Within hours, they call the victim referencing the email, making it seem like a legitimate follow-up.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The phone call adds authority and urgency, significantly increasing the chance the victim clicks the link or provides information.
The outcome
Christopher realized something was wrong when a phone caller references a specific email they sent and asks you to act on it now. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Treat unsolicited phone calls that reference emails as suspicious — hang up and call the organization directly using their official number. Christopher's experience shows why a phone caller references a specific email they sent and asks you to act on it now and the caller creates urgency — account breach, payment overdue, legal action are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- A phone caller references a specific email they sent and asks you to act on it now
- The caller creates urgency — account breach, payment overdue, legal action
- They ask you to stay on the line while you follow the email's instructions
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Treat unsolicited phone calls that reference emails as suspicious — hang up and call the organization directly using their official number.
- ✓Never follow email instructions while being coached by a caller you did not initiate contact with.
- ✓Report the phone number and email to the impersonated organization and the FTC.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The FBI has noted that hybrid phishing attacks combining email and voice (vishing) are increasingly effective, with business losses rising year over year.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Treat unsolicited phone calls that reference emails as suspicious — hang up and call the organization directly using their official number.
- ✓Never follow email instructions while being coached by a caller you did not initiate contact with.
- ✓Report the phone number and email to the impersonated organization and the FTC.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The FBI has noted that hybrid phishing attacks combining email and voice (vishing) are increasingly effective, with business losses rising year over year.
FBI IC3 2024
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Business professionals, All consumers
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Canada
Primary channel
Multiple — Multi-channel phishing scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Business professionals are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The FBI has noted that hybrid phishing attacks combining email and voice (vishing) are increasingly effective, with business losses rising year over year.
Source notes
- FBI IC3 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about email then phone call combo scam
How does the email then phone call combo scam work?+
Scammers send a phishing email about a billing issue, security alert, or account problem. Within hours, they call the victim referencing the email, making it seem like a legitimate follow-up. The phone call adds authority and urgency, significantly increasing the chance the victim clicks the link or provides information.
What are the warning signs of email then phone call combo scam?+
A phone caller references a specific email they sent and asks you to act on it now The caller creates urgency — account breach, payment overdue, legal action They ask you to stay on the line while you follow the email's instructions
What should I do if I encounter email then phone call combo scam?+
Treat unsolicited phone calls that reference emails as suspicious — hang up and call the organization directly using their official number. Never follow email instructions while being coached by a caller you did not initiate contact with. Report the phone number and email to the impersonated organization and the FTC.
Who is most at risk for email then phone call combo scam?+
This scam primarily targets Business professionals, All consumers. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and typically appears on Multiple.
Is email then phone call combo scam getting worse?+
email then phone call combo scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
Related scams
Similar scams to watch out for
Multi-channel phishing scams
↑ 275%text then email follow-up scam
A smishing text alerts the victim to a problem, followed by a detailed phishing email with a malicious link or attachment, using the text to prime the victim to expect the email.
What to do first
Be suspicious when a text message and email arrive about the same topic from unknown sources.
Targets
All consumers
Seen in
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Multi-channel phishing scams
↑ 275%social media then DM scam
Scammers build credibility through public social media interactions before moving to private DMs where they execute phishing attacks, romance scams, or investment fraud.
What to do first
Be cautious of new contacts who engage publicly before quickly moving to private messages.
Targets
Online users
Seen in
U.S.
Multi-channel phishing scams
↑ 275%QR code to phishing site scam
Malicious QR codes placed on flyers, parking meters, restaurant menus, or in emails redirect scanners to phishing websites that steal credentials or install malware.
What to do first
Preview the URL before opening it — most phone cameras show the destination before you tap.
Targets
All consumers
Seen in
U.S.
Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.