5 Examples of Social Engineering Attacks: Learn How Social Engineers Trick Their Way In

Table of Contents

• How Do Social Engineering Attacks Occur?
• Common Types of Social Engineering Attacks
• Preventing Social Engineering Attacks in the Workplace
• How MetaCompliance Can Help

Humans are naturally social beings. We thrive on communication, collaboration, and shared experiences. This trust-based nature enables teamwork and coexistence—but it can also be exploited by cybercriminals.

Social engineering attacks take advantage of human psychology, using deception and impersonation to manipulate individuals into revealing sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security.

According to the 2026 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), the human element continues to play a significant role in the majority of data breaches, reinforcing the importance of helping employees recognise and respond to social engineering attacks before they lead to a security incident.

How Do Social Engineering Attacks Occur?

Social engineering attacks remain one of the most common techniques used by cybercriminals because they target people rather than technology. These attacks continue to evolve, using increasingly sophisticated phishing emails, phone calls, text messages and AI-generated content to bypass traditional security controls.

The primary goal of a social engineering attack is to trick someone into doing something that benefits a cybercriminal. For example, sharing confidential information, transferring money, or granting unauthorised access.

Social engineering is not limited to the digital world. Attackers often combine online and offline tactics to appear credible. They may use phone calls, emails, or even in-person visits to build trust before exploiting it.

Common Types of Social Engineering Attacks

• Pretexting: The attacker fabricates a believable scenario (or “pretext”) to gain the target’s trust. They might pretend to be a colleague, supplier, or authority figure—such as a police officer or IT technician—to request sensitive information.
• Tailgating: This involves physically following someone into a restricted area by pretending to belong there—like entering an office behind an authorised employee.
• Phishing: Fraudulent emails or messages designed to trick recipients into revealing personal data or login credentials.
• Baiting: Luring victims with promises of free items, downloads, or prizes that actually install malware.
• Vishing and Smishing: Voice (phone-based) and SMS phishing scams used to steal information through impersonation.

Preventing Social Engineering Attacks in the Workplace

• Educate employees about common attack techniques through regular security awareness training.
• Verify identities before sharing sensitive information or granting access.
• Establish clear communication protocols for financial or data-related requests.
• Encourage staff to report suspicious activity immediately.
• Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to strengthen security across all accounts.