Social Engineering Scams: How Criminals Manipulate You Into Sharing Personal Data

We live in interesting times, where technology controls communication, bringing people from all over the world together.

Without a surprise, it also involves cybercriminals and digital wrongdoers, preying on Internet users’ vulnerabilities and weaknesses.

As online threats of all sorts are on the rise, criminals do not have to rely on actively hacking networks. Instead, they more often utilize social engineering scams based on psychological manipulation that leads them to gain their targets’ personal data.

How does social engineering work and is there a chance to avoid becoming a victim? Let us explore this intriguing topic.

What Is Social Engineering?

Social engineering refers to a set of skills used by cybercriminals to trick a targeted person or organization into doing something or disclosing private information in favor of the scammer. While traditional cyberattacks depend mainly on software flaws, hacking computers, and planting viruses, social engineering exploits human emotions based on curiosity, anxiety, and trust. 

Strategies related to social engineering are often used by online blackmailers, who aim to intimidate victims by making them obey their demands. When it comes to online blackmail definition, social engineering is often mentioned as one of the most dangerous techniques for obtaining specific data or access to a device. Such cruel approaches are employed by cybercriminals to obtain financial data, reveal business information, or get access to accounts.

Techniques Used in Social Engineering Scams

Cybercriminals can be very manipulative when it comes to utilizing social engineering in their pitiful scams. According to a Trustwave report from 2020, 50% of data breach incidents involved phishing and social engineering back then. Furthermore, based on Verizon’s reports, 85% of data breach attacks involve a human element. And yes—social engineering is commonly used by online blackmailers even today.

Wrongdoers often rely on different techniques and methods of manipulation to achieve their goals. Understanding what types of scams you can come across if necessary to build a defensive strategy that will help you safeguard your online presence.

1. Phishing

In social engineering, phishing is still one of the most common scam methods. Criminals often mimic well-known brand names to quickly gain their victims’ trust. The average number of over 400 brands are used globally each month in such fraudulent schemes. 

Scammers create fake emails, messages, or social media posts, that seem to be legit. They usually imitate reputable organizations, such as the government, or banks, but also e-commerce platforms or popular streaming services. 

The aim of phishing is to lead the victim into clicking a deceptive link, which leads to a fraudulent website. There, individuals must share their fiscal data (e.g. credit card credentials) or make a direct payment online. This way phishing scams steal either personal data or money, or, in some cases, both.

2. Pretexting

Pretexting is another strategy used in social engineering scams that makes the target fall into the criminals’ trap. Again, fraudsters claim to represent authoritative figures, such as an IT specialist or a bank representative. They create a pretext, in which they fake a situation that lures the victim into sharing private information. Cybercriminals aim specifically at obtaining data, which would not normally be shared outside of a given context.

Pretexting is very similar to phishing, yet it relies more on building a trustworthy connection between the bully and the victim. This social engineering technique can also be used offline, e.g. to gain access to an off-limits building. In some cases, pretexting takes the criminal more time, as they slowly build trust, which leads the target to voluntarily give up sensitive data.

3. Baiting

If you have ever gone fishing, you would know precisely how bait works. The sweet promise of something out of the ordinary, most commonly appearing to the victim out of the blue, and promising instant rewards. However, nothing good comes out of it, at least for the victim. Just like fish, vulnerable Internet users can also fall into such a trap.

Online baiting is a social engineering scheme that involves the promise of delivering something alluring, such as free software downloads, monetary rewards, or giveaways. Similarly to phishing, baiting convinces the potential victim to click on a specific link, leading them to install malware. Such software has the ability to steal personal data or compromise private files on a given device.

4. Quid Pro Quo

In a quid pro quo social engineering scam, the cybercriminal asks for personal data in return for something of value. For example, the scammer can act as an IT support expert pretending to resolve a non-existent issue. They do not need physical access to the device. All they ask for is remote access via login credentials, as they ensure to take care of the problem.

How Criminals Manipulate Victims Into Sharing Personal Data

Cybercriminals refer to sophisticated methods of gaining their victims’ trust in social engineering schemes. They often take their time in manipulating people to share private information, sensitive content, or access to accounts. The most common manipulation techniques involve:

• Impersonating Trustworthy Bodies: Fraudsters claim to represent respectable businesses or authorities by utilizing official logos, messaging formats, and terminology.
• Playing on Human Emotions: Using fear, anxiety, and the sense of urgency to their advantage, cyberbullies lead their victims to prompt actions without giving them much thought.
• Exploiting Publicly Shared Information: Scammers do thorough research before contacting a target, utilizing all details about a person that are publicly available on the Internet.
• Creating a Sense of Security: Blackmailers can engage in lengthy conversations, step by step earning trust and building a fake relationship, for example, pretending to be a person in love.

Defending yourself from fraudsters can be a difficult task, especially if you engage in multiple conversations all the time. However, if you are too trusting, the likelihood of becoming a target will increase significantly. Thus, you must take proactive measures to avoid falling victim to social engineering scams.

How to Safeguard Yourself From Scams?

As we step into a new reality, in which more social engineering scams will be empowered by AI, it becomes more crucial than ever to stay watchful. Take these few tips into consideration to avoid falling victim to cybercriminals in 2025:

• Question Everything: Staying vigilant and skeptical will lead you to double-check each piece of information online. This also means reassuring yourself that you are not engaging in a fraudulent conversation online.
• Examine Emails and URLs: Always check the legitimacy of an email address used to contact you. Hover your cursor over a link to see where it would lead you, and refrain from clicking if the address is suspicious.
• Enable 2FA: 2FA, or Two-Factor Authentication, adds an extra layer of security for all logins. It could require an email confirmation, or an SMS code to authenticate your credentials before signing in.
• Limit Online Presence: Always think twice before posting any photos, videos, or comments on the Internet. Check your privacy settings so your content is not shown to unwanted people.
• Report Social Engineering Scams: Utilize in-app reporting tools to fight off fraudsters trying to reach you. Also, get in touch with a professional helpline to get more information on stopping cyber criminals from causing more harm online.

It does not end here—keep yourself educated to understand the latest trends in cyber security and online scams. This way you shall always be one step ahead of the fraudsters.

Avoid Social Engineering Scams Now

Social engineering scams are far more challenging than technological ones, as they rely on human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities. That is why everyone should stay alert when using the Internet and communicating with suspicious people. Protecting your personal data in this digital world of today is the key to staying safe and not losing money or sensitive content to cyber criminals.