Years ago, when I was building my old tech company, I thought the biggest cybersecurity threats would come from lines of malicious code or sophisticated digital break-ins. As our platform grew, I learned just how shockingly creative—and relentless—cybercriminals could be. But what really shook me wasn’t the complex hacks. It was the simple truth that many attackers don’t need to break down a firewall or exploit a vulnerability in your code. They just need YOU.
How do you Protect Against Data Breaches Caused by Social Engineering Tactics?
In today’s digital landscape, data breaches are no longer just the result of high-tech hacking tools. Increasingly, cybercriminals are turning to social engineering—manipulating human behavior—to trick contractors, employees and clients into handing over access to sensitive systems or information. Recent incidents of reported breaches, show how effective these tactics can be, putting both companies and clients at risk.
Yup, ‘the call IS coming from inside the house’. Human error remains the #1 way your data can get breached.
If They Didn’t Hack the System, Then How Did They Hack the Person?
Most people think they’d never fall for a scam. They picture social engineering as something that only tricks the naïve or careless. But the truth is far more uncomfortable: social engineering works because it preys on our instincts, not our ignorance—and those instincts are hardwired.
And that’s exactly what hackers are counting on.
Here are the 3 rules I always share with my clients at enrollment or during our welcome call to stay breach-free:
1. Posing As Your Insurance Agent
Imagine this: you’re dealing with a licensed insurance professional, someone representing a well-known, reputable organization. You’ve seen their commercials. You’ve spoken to their reps. You may have even filed a claim with them before. So when you receive a call or email from someone using their name, logo, and tone, your brain doesn’t scream “danger”—it leans into trust.
When a hacker poses as an insurance rep, they don’t need to be convincing for long-just long enough to get what they need.
Defense: Call your agent using the number they provided you. Good insurance reps build the relationship and maintain on-going contact.
If for some reason, you can not find your agent’s phone number, then one can call the insurance company directly and ask for your agent’s number, obtain it through the Department of Insurance or simply look at the card or flyer left with you in your brochure folder or policy jacket. But you must ALWAYS verify the request.
If it turns out that actual business needs to be conducted and sensitive material needs to be dealt with, ask to meet in person or video conferencing with the web cameras on.
2. Don’t Go Phish: ‘Think Before You Click’ Does Work
Launched in 2013, the Think Before You Click campaign via the NCSA encouraged people to pause and consider the legitimacy of emails, links and attachments prior to interacting with them. It’s techniques and strategies as well as its dedication to promoting a culture of vigilance and critical thinking has significantly and effectively reduced the success rate of cyber scams.
Defense: The defense against digital social engineering threats is by strengthening real-world human defenses.
Here are some practical tips to avoid Phisching Scams:
a. Pause and Think Before Clicking
Phishers rely on quick, impulsive reactions. Take a moment to consider whether the email, text or link is legitimate.
b. Check the Sender’s Email Address Carefully
One of the simplest yet most effective ways to spot a phishing attempt is to carefully check the sender’s email address. Cybercriminals often disguise themselves by using email addresses that look similar to legitimate ones—sometimes changing just a single letter or using a different domain (like “.net” instead of “.com”). Don’t rely solely on the display name; instead, hover over or click the name at the top left of the message to reveal the full email address and verify it against known contacts or official company domains. If anything looks off or unfamiliar, treat the message with caution.
c. Be Wary of Urgency or Threats
Phishing attacks often try to rush you into making a mistake by creating a false sense of urgency or threatening negative consequences if you don’t act immediately. Messages claiming your account will be closed, your payment is overdue, or you’re in legal trouble are designed to trigger panic and override your usual caution. Always take a moment to pause and verify the legitimacy of these claims before responding or clicking any links. Legitimate organizations typically provide reasonable timeframes and won’t pressure you to act instantly.
If it’s important, your Agent or Carrier will call you. Speaking of which…
3. Hang Up and Double Check: Protect Yourself from Fake Insurance Calls
If someone calls claiming they’re from a company I’m insured through or contracted with, but I don’t recognize the number or have it saved on my phone, you better believe I hang up and run faster than a cat near a cucumber.
Yes, my poor phone regularly has whiplash.
Be cautious of unexpected phone calls claiming to be from your insurance company—scammers often impersonate headquarters employees (such as underwriters) and various W2 company reps (such as call center or servicing employees) to steal your personal information.
Defense: If you receive such a call, don’t trust the caller ID or the phone number they provide.
Instead, politely hang up and locate the official contact number from your insurance brochure folder, policy jacket, or the company’s official website.
Call that number directly and ask, “Is there something going on with my account? I received a call from this number and want to verify if it was legitimate.”
Taking this extra step helps protect your personal information and prevents you from falling victim to fraud.
Final Thoughts
You always have the power to outsmart the human hack. You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to stay safe—you just need to slow down, verify, and trust your gut.
Social engineering tactics work because it feels normal, familiar, even helpful. But that’s the trap.
Scammers are getting smarter, but so are we. And with a few smart habits, a little caution, and a healthy dose of curiosity, you’ll be one less person they can manipulate.
