Beware of Manipulation: Protect Yourself from Social Engineering

Understanding Social Engineering Tactics

Beware of Manipulation: Protect Yourself from Social Engineering

Scammers don’t always rely on technology—they use social engineering to exploit human psychology. Understanding these tactics can help you avoid falling victim to such schemes.

What is Social Engineering?

Social engineering involves manipulating individuals into revealing personal information or performing actions that benefit the scammer. This manipulation often plays on trust and emotions like fear, urgency, or curiosity.

Common Social Engineering Tactics

• Impersonation: Scammers pose as someone you trust, such as a company representative or a friend.

• Emotional Triggers: Urgency, fear, or excitement are used to cloud your judgment.

• Building Relationships: Online scammers may spend weeks building trust before making their move.

How to Protect Yourself

• Pause Before Acting: If a request feels urgent, take a moment to verify its legitimacy.

• Be Skeptical: Question unexpected messages, even from familiar names.

• Verify Identity: Use tools like Caleb & Brown's CallerCheck, located in the client Portal, to confirm a contact’s identity before sharing sensitive information.

• Protecting yourself requires vigilance and a healthy dose of skepticism.

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