So, you’re going about your day, and suddenly, you receive a call from an alleged police officer. The officer tells you that a close friend has been arrested and urgently needs bail money. They don’t just make vague claims—they have incredibly personal information, like details of your friend’s recent surgery, information you believed only close friends would know.
It’s terrifying and convincing.
This exact scenario happened to my friend. The caller was so convincing, using personal details to gain trust, that my friend followed through with the request. They bought a $2000 Visa gift card, believing it would bail out their friend. It wasn’t until later that they realized it was all a scam. But how did the scammer know so much?
This is where IT security becomes frightening. Hackers can gather detailed personal data from compromised networks, unsecured devices, or even through social engineering tactics. Once they have it, they can craft incredibly believable stories that make even the most cautious person fall victim.
By Jose Luis Jara
