Which term describes using a fictitious scenario to persuade someone to reveal information they are not authorized to share?

Which term describes using a fictitious scenario to persuade someone to reveal information they are not authorized to share?

• A. Phishing
• B. Spoofing
• C. Pretexting
• D. Baiting

Answer: (C)

Pretexting is a social engineering tactic where the attacker fabricates a believable scenario or identity to coax a target into sharing information or performing actions they shouldn’t. The deception hinges on a constructed backstory that makes the target feel they are interacting with a legitimate authority or peer, such as a bank representative, IT support, or a coworker. Because the goal is to obtain confidential data by presenting a convincing, fictitious situation, this precisely describes using a bogus scenario to persuade someone to reveal information they are not authorized to share. Phishing relies on deceptive messages to lure victims online, spoofing impersonates someone or something without a backstory, and baiting uses a tangible lure to entice action; none of these hinge on a crafted scenario in the same way as pretexting.

Pretexting is a social engineering tactic where the attacker fabricates a believable scenario or identity to coax a target into sharing information or performing actions they shouldn’t. The deception hinges on a constructed backstory that makes the target feel they are interacting with a legitimate authority or peer, such as a bank representative, IT support, or a coworker. Because the goal is to obtain confidential data by presenting a convincing, fictitious situation, this precisely describes using a bogus scenario to persuade someone to reveal information they are not authorized to share. Phishing relies on deceptive messages to lure victims online, spoofing impersonates someone or something without a backstory, and baiting uses a tangible lure to entice action; none of these hinge on a crafted scenario in the same way as pretexting.