Pretexting
Last updated
Last updated
A form of social engineering that involves creating a fabricated scenario and assuming a false identity to manipulate individuals into sharing sensitive information or taking unknowingly self-sabotage actions. While it is related to phishing and its usually done in conjunction, pretexting is more centered into tailoring a background story and can be executed through digital or real life mediums. It can even involve actors or voice actors.
Bad actors pass as a tech support personnel, faking some problem on the system or network using urgency and fear manipulation to trick the victim.
Bad actors impersonate the CEO of the company to exert pressure and instill fear into the idea of refusing to collaborate even if its still a strange petition.
Bad actors impersonate any trusted medium of the victim, so its guard is down.
Bad actors impersonate hiring personnel with fake job offers to, probably in need, victims that will comply easily into giving away data or directly money in promise of job opportunity.
Bad actors create a fake online persona, to deceive and manipulate individuals into a fake relationship. This scam gained popularity with the rise of online dating and social media. The goal is to gain the trust of the victim with fake promises and words of love, then asking for money with some sort of fabricated dire situation. Fake profiles can be done with minimal effort, be run by bots and be spammed all over the internet or be thorough and tailored to the interests of a particular victim. I can recommend a YouTube channel that investigates real cases of catfishing, .
Bad actors impersonate as a charity group using emotional manipulation to trick victims into giving away money to fake entities or recollect personal data.
Bad actors impersonate a fake lottery organization and manipulate the victims into believing they won a prize, using this premise to ask for money in order to reclaim it or requesting personal information. Try will create a sense of urgency and excitement to cloud the judgement of the victims.