Why Cybercriminals Target People—Not Just Systems

Cybercriminals don’t always need to hack into your systems with fancy tools or complex code. Sometimes, all they need to do is trick someone on your team. This kind of attack is called a social engineering attack, and it works by using psychology to get past your security.

Instead of breaking in through a computer, attackers break in through people. They use messages or situations that seem normal to get someone to click a link, share information, or take an action that puts your business at risk.

This blog will explain how these attacks work and how you can protect your team from falling for them.

How Social Engineering Works

Social engineering works because it takes advantage of how people naturally think and act. Most of us want to be helpful, follow instructions, and avoid trouble. Attackers know this—and they use it to their advantage.

Here are some common tricks they use:

• Authority: The attacker pretends to be someone important, like a boss or finance leader. They might say, “Transfer this money now” or “Send me the login details.”
• Urgency: They create pressure by saying something bad will happen if you don’t act fast. For example, “Your account will be shut down in 15 minutes.”
• Fear: They try to scare you. A message might say, “Your data has been stolen—click here to fix it.”
• Greed: They offer something tempting, like a refund or a gift. You might see, “Click here to claim your $50 reward.”

These messages often look like regular business emails, which makes them hard to spot—unless you know what to look for.

How to Protect Your Team

You don’t need a huge budget or complex tools to fight back. Here are simple steps every business can take:

• Train your team: Teach employees how these scams work. Help them recognize the signs of a fake message.
• Stick to best practices: Don’t click on strange links, open unknown attachments, or respond to unexpected requests.
• Always verify: If someone asks for money, passwords, or sensitive info, double-check through a trusted method—like calling them directly.
• Slow down: Remind your team to pause and think before acting on anything that feels rushed or unusual.
• Use multi-factor authentication (MFA): This adds an extra step to logins, making it harder for attackers to get in—even if they have a password.
• Report anything odd: Make it easy for employees to speak up if something doesn’t feel right. Early warnings can stop an attack before it spreads.

Don’t Wait for the Next Attack

Now is the time to act. Start using these tips to protect your business and your people. If you need help putting these steps in place, we’re here to support you.

Schedule a free consultation to review your current cybersecurity setup and make sure your team is ready for threats that look like everyday business.