CEO Fraud via Phone Calls
Fraudsters phone employees impersonating a senior executive, using a confident voice and spoofed caller ID to demand an urgent, confidential payment.
Part of: CEO Fraud
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
A phone call brings the authority of a senior leader to life in a way that text cannot, which is why CEO fraud often arrives by voice. Hearing what sounds like the chief executive demanding an urgent payment can override an employee's caution and prompt immediate compliance.
Caller ID can be spoofed to display the executive's name or number, and advances in voice technology can even mimic a specific person. The live call lets the impersonator press for action, discourage verification, and exploit the employee's reluctance to question someone senior.
How this scam works on Phone calls
The employee receives a call from someone claiming to be the chief executive or another senior leader, sometimes preceded by a spoofed email. The caller asserts that a confidential, urgent payment must be made and that the employee has been chosen to handle it discreetly.
They apply pressure through a deadline or the importance of a supposed deal, and discourage consulting colleagues. The caller may already know details about the organisation, lending credibility, and guides the employee through the transfer step by step.
If the employee proceeds, the funds reach a criminal-controlled account. The fraud is usually exposed only when the genuine executive denies making the request, after the money has moved.
Common red flags
- A call from a supposed executive demanding an urgent, secret payment
- Caller ID showing the executive but a voice that seems slightly off
- Pressure to complete a transfer immediately during the call
- Instructions not to discuss the matter with colleagues
- A deadline or important deal used to justify haste
- A caller discouraging you from verifying through other channels
How to protect yourself
- Hang up and call the executive back on a known, saved number
- Never authorise a payment based on a phone call alone
- Treat caller ID and even a familiar voice as unreliable
- Apply dual authorisation to all transfers above a threshold
- Give staff explicit permission to verify senior requests
- Confirm any new payment details through an independent contact
How to report it
- Report the call to your national fraud or cybercrime reporting service
- Notify your bank immediately to attempt recovery of any funds
- Record the caller's number, time, and claims for your security team
Frequently asked questions
The voice on the call really sounded like our CEO. Could it still be a scam?
Yes. Voices can be imitated, including with technology, and caller ID can be spoofed. A sounding-right voice is not proof. Hang up and call the executive back on a number you already trust before authorising any payment.