Which of the following do pretexting scams often rely on? Persuasion and manipulation to get the victim to give information or perform a malicious action An abundance of time to ensure the victim fully understands the request Direct requests for money Transparent and clear communication about their intent Submit
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is: Persuasion and manipulation to get the victim to give information or perform a malicious action.
Explanation:
Pretexting is a type of social engineering scam where the attacker creates a fabricated scenario (or “pretext”) to manipulate the victim into disclosing confidential information, such as personal details, financial information, or access credentials. Pretexting relies heavily on psychological tactics, specifically persuasion and manipulation. The scammer typically pretends to be someone the victim knows or trusts, like a bank official, a government agent, or an IT support technician. This deception encourages the victim to provide sensitive data or take actions that can compromise their security.
Unlike scams that directly ask for money, pretexting usually involves a more indirect approach, where the attacker focuses on gaining trust and convincing the victim that sharing certain information is necessary. For example, they may claim there’s an urgent issue that requires personal details for verification, such as an account lockout or a security breach. By carefully crafting a story, the scammer can make the victim feel obligated to comply with the request, believing that it’s legitimate.
Pretexting does not typically involve direct requests for money upfront. Instead, the scammer works to gain trust over time, sometimes exploiting the victim’s emotions, authority, or willingness to cooperate. The goal is to manipulate the victim into providing valuable information or making decisions that ultimately benefit the attacker.
This technique can be highly effective because it plays on human emotions, including fear, trust, and urgency, making it harder for the victim to detect that they are being manipulated. Pretexting is often more dangerous than straightforward scams because it can seem legitimate to the victim, especially when the scammer knows enough personal details to make their pretext appear plausible.
