When a person is deceived into revealing information over the phone, it is known as?

The situation described involves a person being deceived into revealing sensitive information, which aligns perfectly with the definition of social engineering. Social engineering is a manipulation technique that exploits human psychology rather than technological vulnerabilities to obtain confidential information. It often occurs over various communication channels, including phone calls, where perpetrators use tactics like pretexting or impersonation to trick individuals into divulging personal or financial information.

This method of deception capitalizes on trust and the innate desire of individuals to help others or to comply with authority figures, making it a common and effective fraud scheme. Understanding social engineering is crucial for both recognizing potential security threats and implementing proper measures to safeguard sensitive information.

The other terms mentioned—replicating and spamming—do not describe this scenario where trust is manipulated to extract personal details. Replicating generally refers to copying or reproducing content or actions and is not associated with deceptive communication for acquiring sensitive information. Spamming involves sending unsolicited messages, typically for advertising purposes, and lacks the personal deception aspect essential to social engineering.