How to Spot a Social Engineering Attack | MetaCompliance

Knowing how to identify social engineering attacks is crucial for protecting your organisation’s sensitive data and systems. Social engineering exploits human behaviour rather than technical vulnerabilities, making it one of the most common and effective cyber attack techniques.

Instead of breaking down doors, cybercriminals manipulate employees to hand over information voluntarily—like asking for the key instead of forcing entry. This approach has made social engineering a leading method of cyber attack. According to the 2024 Verizon Data Breach Investigation Report, social engineering attacks remain a major concern, with a notable increase from 2023 — largely driven by a sharp rise in pretexting, which has more than doubled and now accounts for 20% of incidents..

What Is Social Engineering?

Social engineering is a cyber attack method that exploits human behaviour to gain access to sensitive information or compromise business processes. Common examples include Business Email Compromise (BEC) and malware infections.

Cybercriminals manipulate individuals through deception, psychological tricks, and exploitation of human trust. The typical lifecycle of a social engineering attack, identified by researchers Abid et al., includes:

  • Information Gathering: Collecting details about target behaviour, apps, and processes to establish trust.
  • Relationship Development: Using trust to create rapport and prepare the target for exploitation.
  • Exploitation: Executing the attack, such as clicking a phishing link or initiating a fraudulent transfer.
  • Execution: Completing the attack, including stealing credentials, installing malware, or accessing sensitive data.

Five Signs You Might Be Targeted by Social Engineering

Spotting social engineering can be challenging because attacks often mimic everyday interactions. Here are five key warning signs:

1. An Unexpected Attachment or Link

Phishing emails or smishing messages often include malicious links or attachments. These messages use urgency, fear, curiosity, or threats to manipulate the recipient. Always verify the sender’s email address, check for grammatical errors, and think before clicking.

2. An Unusual Request

Unexpected requests—especially from senior executives—may indicate a scam. For instance, a spear phishing email may ask an employee to transfer funds urgently. Verify unusual requests by contacting the sender directly.

3. An Urgent Demand

Cybercriminals create urgency to pressure employees into acting quickly. BEC attacks often threaten business consequences if instructions aren’t followed. Take a step back, verify the request, and confirm with the supposed sender.

4. An Offer Too Good to Be True

Scammers may promise money, prizes, or rewards in exchange for personal or company information. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

5. Social Media Requests from Unknown Contacts

Fraudsters create fake social media accounts to gather information or build relationships with targets. Check profiles carefully for completeness, work history, and authentic recommendations before accepting requests.

Protect Your Organisation with MetaCompliance

MetaCompliance helps businesses like yours identify and respond to social engineering attacks. Explore our solutions designed to reduce human cyber risk and strengthen your organisation’s security posture:

FAQs on Social Engineering Attacks

What is social engineering in cybersecurity?

Social engineering is a tactic where attackers manipulate people into revealing confidential information or performing actions that compromise security.