RescueUSD Cyber Awareness Lesson

Common Social Engineering Susceptibilities

Please Enjoy this Video- Work Bytes: Phishing

 

• Fear: Cybercriminals often use fear to push people into immediate action—like threatening with account suspension, legal trouble, or data loss—to bypass logical thinking and provoke compliance.
• Obedience: Many people naturally comply with perceived authority. Attackers exploit this by impersonating managers, law enforcement, or IT support to get sensitive information or access.
• Greed: Offering fake prizes, investment opportunities, or refunds taps into our desire for financial gain. This leads victims to click suspicious links, download attachments, or enter credentials on fake sites.
• Opportunity: A once-in-a-lifetime deal or offer can cloud judgment. Social engineers know this and present “urgent opportunities” that trick people into acting before verifying legitimacy.
• Sociableness: Scammers build trust through friendliness or familiarity. By pretending to be a coworker, friend, or support agent, they make victims feel safe enough to disclose information.
• Urgency: Pressuring someone to act quickly leaves little time for critical thinking. Attackers may say, “You must act now!” or set artificial deadlines to rush decisions.
• Curiosity: Unexpected emails or messages with vague subjects like “Payroll Update” or “You won’t believe this!” exploit curiosity, prompting users to click on malicious links or files.

It's essential to recognize these psychological manipulation tactics because they target human behavior—not just technology. While security systems help protect infrastructure, people are often the soft targets. By understanding how attackers exploit emotions and instincts, individuals and organizations can be more vigilant, verify suspicious communications, and avoid becoming victims of social engineering attacks.