1. Insurance Terms & Definitions/
  2. Insurance Terms Starting With S

Social Engineering

What is Social Engineering?

Social engineering refers to the use of psychological manipulation to deceive or trick people into divulging sensitive information or taking certain actions that they would not normally take.


Social Engineering in More Detail

Examples of social engineering include phishing emails or phone calls where the attacker poses as a trustworthy entity or person to trick the victim into revealing their login credentials or other sensitive information, or alternatively where the attacker fabricates a story to gain the victim’s trust and send money to what turns out to be a fraudulent account.
The bad actors will often impersonate a senior executive to pressure the victim into the action. To protect against social engineering attacks, it is important to be aware of the tactics used by bad actors, exercise caution when providing sensitive information, and maintain a robust risk management and insurance program.
Social Engineering coverage is found in Cyber and Crime insurance policies.

Jonathan Selby

Jonathan Selby

Technology Practice Lead


With his years as a Long Island Broker, Jonathan blends the “old school” with fresh, tech-powered ideas. His commitment to turning over one more stone reassures us that we can pursue the perfect insurance fit for our clients, regardless of…

Author Profile

Friends don’t let friends go at risk management alone

Quote Image