3 Red Flags to Watch Out for in Social Engineering - Non-Phishing

 

This information is also available on my YouTube Channel at: https://youtu.be/OpOAoPUMfoU    

If you prefer, you can also listen to this information on my Podcast at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/norbert-gostischa/episodes/3-Red-Flags-to-Watch-Out-for-in-Social-Engineering---Non-Phishing-e32sl0s

"Ever had someone call you claiming to be tech support, urgently needing your password? Or maybe a “new colleague” slide into your DMs asking for a quick favor? These feel weird—and for good reason. They’re prime examples of social engineering attacks, where humans are the target instead of software." 

Let’s break down the top three red flags, understand why they work, and learn simple steps to protect ourselves—no IT degree required!

🚩Red Flag #1 - The “Urgent Authority” Call

Your phone rings. The caller ID shows “IT Help Desk.”  - They speak in a calm but firm tone:

“Your account has been flagged for suspicious activity. We need your username and password right now to fix it, or you’ll lose all your data.”

Sounds scary, right? Attackers rely on two powerful levers here:

Authority - People tend to obey figures in positions of power.

Urgency - When time is short, you skip normal checks and act fast—often without thinking.

Why it’s a red flag:

Legitimate IT or security teams never ask you to share your password over the phone or via email.

They have other secure channels to verify identity - ticket numbers, internal portals, or multi-factor authentication apps.

Real-world twist - Some attackers even spoof caller IDs so it really shows “Your Company IT.” - Caller ID isn’t bulletproof.

Stay safe tip - Pause and verify. Hang up and call back using a known number from your company directory or official website.

Never share credentials - Instead, ask the caller to open a support ticket in your legitimate help system.

🚩 Red Flag #2 -  The “Friendly Stranger” Online Connection

You get a LinkedIn request from someone named “Alex Martinez.” You notice a few mutual connections—but their profile is nearly empty, with just a generic stock photo and “Software Engineer” as a title. A day later they message you:

“Hey, I’m working on a project with our mutual contact, Jamie. Can you send me the database access key? It’s urgent!”

Why it’s a red flag:

Attackers build fake profiles (sock puppets) to slowly gain trust.

By weaving in real names, they reduce suspicion.

Once trusted, they’ll ask for something small at first—then escalate requests over time.

Psychology check - Humans have a bias toward consistency - once you agree to a small favor, you’re more likely to agree to bigger ones. This is called the “foot-in-the-door” technique.

Stay safe tip:

Vet every request - If someone asks for sensitive info, verify in person or via a different trusted channel.

Check profiles carefully - Look for detailed work history, personalized photos, and real engagement.

Limit what you share - Never post critical infrastructure details or internal processes publicly.

🚩 Red Flag #3 - The “Too-Good-To-Be-True” Offer

An email or call comes in offering a brand-new premium software license—for free. All you have to do is “help us out” by installing a remote-access tool or providing your admin password just this once, and they’ll send the license code immediately.

Why it’s a red flag:

This is classic “quid pro quo” - an attacker offers something desirable to trick you into giving up access.

Once they have a foothold (that remote-access tool or admin credentials), they can install malware, siphon data, or create backdoors.

How it plays out:

You agree - They “install” the tool. It looks real, but behind the scenes they’ve handed your network keys over to the bad guys. Weeks later, you discover data exfiltration in your logs—too late.

Stay safe tip:

Question unsolicited offers - If you didn’t request a trial or demo, treat it as suspicious.

Use official channels - Only download software or grant access through your company’s vetted software distribution and change-management process.

Involve security - If an unfamiliar vendor reaches out, loop in your security or procurement teams before taking any action.

🔍Why Social Engineering Works

Social engineering isn’t about fancy hacking tools—it’s about exploiting human nature:

Trust - We trust people who sound official or share mutual contacts.

Urgency - Pressure forces mistakes.

Reciprocity - We feel obliged to return a favor, even if it’s risky.

Attackers craft scenarios that pull these levers, and if you don’t recognize the red flags, you’ll slip right into their trap.

🛡️Your Personal Action Plan

Stop - Think - Verify - Whenever you get an odd request for information or access, pause.

Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) - Even if someone steals your password, they still need the second factor.

Train and share - Talk about these red flags with your colleagues, friends, and family - Awareness is the best defense.

Report incidents immediately - If you suspect you’ve been targeted, notify your security team or the appropriate authority without delay.

Stay safe, secure, vigilant, and curious, and remember, the best firewall between your data and attackers is you.

(AI was used to aid in the creation of this article.)

"I’ll see you again soon. Bye-bye and thanks for reading, watching, and listening."