Imagine this: You receive an urgent email from your IT department asking for your login credentials to fix a “critical issue.” It looks official. It sounds urgent. You reply. Hours later, you realize it wasn’t your IT team, it was an attacker. And now they’re inside your system.

This is one of many tactics used in social engineering attacks.

In cybersecurity, social engineering is the strategy of deceiving people, rather than hacking systems, to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, networks, or physical spaces. It’s one of the most effective methods used by attackers because it targets the most unpredictable variable in security: humans.

In this blog, you’ll learn the definition of social engineering, see real-world examples of how these attacks unfold, and discover how to defend your organization by understanding the psychology behind the threat.

What Does Social Engineering Mean for Your Organization?

Understanding the social engineering definition is important, but understanding its real-world impact matters even more. 

Unlike traditional cyberattacks that rely on breaking through technical defenses, social engineering targets people, influencing emotions like trust, urgency, fear, or curiosity. These are instincts no firewall can block.

Real threats look like: Phishing emails, impersonation schemes, and fraudulent requests which have become everyday risks in modern organizations.

The Stakes? According to a 2024 IBM study, around 70% of data breaches involve social engineering tactics, underscoring their prevalence. If employees can be coerced, attackers don’t need technical exploits.

Common Types and Examples of Social Engineering Attacks

1. Phishing

Attackers send deceptive emails designed to look legitimate to trick users into clicking malicious links or sharing sensitive data.

Example: You receive an email that seems to be from your bank, asking you to verify account details. Clicking the link instead directs you to a fake site that harvests your login credentials.

2. Pretexting

Attackers create a believable story, often impersonating someone trusted, to extract information or gain access.

Example: A vendor calls claiming to have dropped parcels at your office. They ask for access and are let in because you expect deliveries. Later, they're inside your system.

3. Baiting

Hackers entice targets with tempting offers — like free downloads or prize links — that hide malicious payloads.

Example: You plug in a free USB drive labeled Annual Bonuses 2024. It loads malware instead of bonuses.

4. Tailgating (Physical Social Engineering)

Attackers gain physical access by following authorized personnel into secure areas.

Example: Someone walks into your office just behind you, saying they forgot their badge, then accesses sensitive documents or computers.

5. Quid Pro Quo

Attackers offer help in exchange for sensitive information or access.

Example: A tech support impersonator offers help with computer issues, if you provide your login credentials first.

Real-World Social Engineering Examples

Even the most security-savvy companies can fall victim to a well-crafted social engineering attack. Here are two major incidents that show just how devastating these tactics can be:

Impersonation Scam Targets Political Donor

In December 2024, a scammer impersonated a co-chair of the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee and defrauded a political donor out of $250,300 in cryptocurrency. The attacker used a lookalike email that visually mimicked the official domain by swapping a lowercase “l” with the number “1.”

By posing as a real committee member, the scammer convinced the donor to send funds to what appeared to be a legitimate address. The attacker relied on deception, urgency, and impersonation rather than technical hacking to manipulate the donor.

The U.S. Department of Justice later seized $40,300 of the stolen funds after working with cryptocurrency firm Tether to trace and freeze part of the transaction. This case highlights how social engineering tactics can lead to substantial financial losses, even among high-profile individuals and organizations.

Business Email Compromise of the City of Memphis

In April 2025, a federal jury convicted two Texas men, Stanley and Vitalis Anyanwu, for orchestrating a sophisticated business email compromise (BEC) scheme that defrauded the City of Memphis of $773,695.45 

Between February 2022 and the verdict, the conspirators impersonated a legitimate contractor by infiltrating the city's email communication system. They intercepted and manipulated an email thread to redirect a municipal payment, originally intended for a trusted vendor, into a bank account they controlled. This deception was not rooted in a technical breach but in psychological manipulation — carefully designed trust exploitation, a classic hallmark of social engineering.

Once the transfer occurred, the funds were quickly dispersed through a complex money laundering network, making them nearly impossible to recover.

How to Recognize and Prevent Social Engineering Attacks

Be vigilant. Look for requests with urgency or fear tone and double-check unexpected asks, even when they seem legitimate. And invest in security awareness training as your organization’s first line of defense. 

Employees who understand how to spot phishing emails, smishing attempts, and other social engineering tactics are far less likely to fall for them. Additionally, evaluate current training practices and consider a Social Engineering Testing program to uncover and fix real-world vulnerabilities. 

Simulated attacks, like phishing drills and real-world role-playing, help reinforce training by putting that knowledge into action. These controlled exercises test employee readiness in a safe environment, so when a real threat appears, they’ll be ready.

Awareness Is Your Best Defense Against Social Engineering

Social engineering attacks succeed not because of system failures, but because they hack people. When your team understands the threat and knows what to look for, your defenses become far stronger than any firewall can offer.

If you’re ready to protect your staff from people-based threats, Mitnick’s Social Engineering Awareness Training is the way to go. Team members will learn how to spot and stop attacks before they succeed.