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Why attackers target people instead of computers, and how to notice when you are being manipulated.

Hacking the human

Social engineering uses trust, fear, urgency, curiosity or greed to push someone into giving up information or taking an action. It needs no technical skill, which is why it is so common.

Familiar examples

A caller who claims to be from your bank and says your card is being misused. A message from a 'friend' who urgently needs money. An email that looks like it is from your employer and asks you to open a file. Each one borrows trust from a name you already know.

Signals to notice

Be cautious when a message or call creates urgency, asks you to keep it secret, claims authority, or asks for something unusual such as an OTP.

A simple defence

Pause, verify through a channel you trust, and talk to someone before acting. Hang up and call the official number yourself. Real organisations do not mind being checked.

Sources & verification

Published
Last updated
Author
Akshay Kumar Sharma
Type
Educational article (not a news report)

Official sources for further reading

This article gives general safety guidance. Please confirm current rules and procedures on the official sites above before acting. Found a mistake or an outdated point? Please tell us through the contact page.

Educational content only. To report cyber fraud in India, use cybercrime.gov.in (opens in a new tab) or call 1930.

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