Most consumers are familiar by now with the term "phishing."

Phishing involves Internet-based, identity-theft scams that use spam e-mail and pop-up messages to trick consumers into giving up personal information.

"Phishers" claim to be from organizations consumers deal with, like banks or online payment services. Their messages usually ask consumers to "verify" or "re-submit" personal information.

Consumers are often directed to a Web site that looks legitimate, but is not.

Personal information received can be used to steal a consumer's identity and then money, or to commit crimes in the consumer's name.

Now, consumers are being warned of a new, related identity-theft scam. It's called "Vishing" (short for "voice phishing").

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation warned about vishing in its Fall 2006 Consumer News publication (available online at www.fdic.gov).

With "vishing," consumers typically receive fake e-mail messages from banks or government agencies requesting that the consumers make telephone calls to particular numbers "to provide bank account or other 'needed' information using their telephone keypad."

Entry of the information into the number's automated response system provides "vishers" with information that they can use "to gain unauthorized access to bank accounts or commit identity theft."

The FDIC warns consumers not to call telephone numbers listed in unsolicited e-mail messages.

Consumers concerned about accounts should contact their bank or other organization using a telephone number known to be genuine. Genuine telephone numbers are set out in legitimate telephone directories and on your bank statements.

Joseph Pellicciotti is a lawyer, professor and associate vice chancellor at Indiana University Northwest. Opinions in this column are solely his.