Guard Against Deception: Spotting the Telltale Signs of Pretexting
Pretexting is the act of creating a fabricated scenario or pretending to be someone else with the goal of obtaining personal, sensitive, or privileged information from another person. Here are 20 red flags that may suggest someone is pretexting you:
Unexpected Contact: You are contacted by someone claiming to be from a company or organization, but you weren't expecting any communication from them.
Request for Confidential Information: The person requests sensitive information such as passwords, social security numbers, or bank account details.
Urgency: They create a fake sense of urgency, insisting that immediate action is necessary to avert some negative outcomes, like account closure or financial loss.
Inconsistency: Their story or the details they provide change during the conversation or in different communications.
Pressure Tactics: They apply pressure or use scare tactics to coerce you into divulging information.
Unverifiable Contact Information: The phone number or email address they provide doesn't match the official contact details of the institution they claim to represent.
Unsolicited Assistance: They offer help with an account or a problem you didn't know existed until they mentioned it.
Conflicting Information: The information they provide doesn't match up with what you know to be true or what is publicly available.
Name-Dropping: They mention the names of known associates or relatives in an attempt to build false trust.
No Paper Trail: They request verbal confirmation of sensitive details and avoid any written communications.
Holes in Their Story: The pretext story they present is vague, complicated, or has clear gaps in logic.
Avoiding Questions: They dodge or get defensive when you ask questions about their identity or purpose.
Emotional Manipulation: They try to elicit emotions like pity, fear, or sympathy to manipulate you into sharing information.
Lack of Official Credentials: They fail to provide credible proof of identification or official credentials upon request.
Odd Call Times: They contact you at unusual hours when legitimate companies would typically not conduct business.
Requests for Verification: They ask you to confirm details they should already have if they were who they claim to be.
Unusual Payment Methods: They ask for payments via wire transfer, gift cards, or other untraceable methods.
Cryptic Attachments or Links: They send you emails with attachments or links that seem irrelevant or suspicious.
Excessive Flattery or Niceties: They use an unusually high amount of flattery or charm to get you to lower your guard.
Ignoring Protocol: They suggest bypassing standard procedures or policies for verification or information sharing.
Always verify the identity of someone who contacts you and claims they need personal or sensitive information. If in doubt, reach out to the organization directly through official channels to confirm the legitimacy of the request.