Introduction 

Social engineering attacks succeed not through advanced technical exploits, but by targeting human judgment. Instead of bypassing security controls directly, cybercriminals rely on persuasion, impersonation, and psychological pressure to influence decisions. These attacks appear in everyday communication channels such as email, phone calls, and internal messaging systems, often blending seamlessly into normal business processes. 

Reviewing real incidents helps organizations understand how these attacks unfold and why even well-resourced companies can be affected when verification steps are skipped or trust is assumed. 

1. The Google and Facebook $100 Million Payment Fraud 

Between 2013 and 2015, a criminal based in Lithuania successfully deceived employees at Google and Facebook into transferring more than $100 million. The attacker posed as a legitimate hardware supplier by registering look-alike domains and creating realistic invoices and legal documents. Because the emails and paperwork matched expected vendor communications, staff processed payments without detecting the deception. This case illustrates how routine financial workflows can be misused when identity validation is weak or overly reliant on email-based trust. 

2. The Twitter 2020 Internal Access Attack 

In July 2020, attackers gained control of several prominent Twitter accounts, including those of public figures and major brands. Rather than exploiting software flaws, the attackers contacted employees by phone and convinced them to share access credentials to internal systems. 

Once access was obtained, fraudulent cryptocurrency messages were posted from verified accounts, leading to financial losses and reputational harm. This incident demonstrated how internal staff can be targeted directly and how voice-based deception can bypass technical safeguards. 

3. The Target Retail Data Breach 

The 2013 Target breach began with a phishing message sent to a third-party HVAC service provider. Attackers used the compromised vendor credentials to move laterally into Target’s network through trusted connections. 

As a result, payment card data from more than 40 million customers was exposed. This case highlights the risks associated with supplier access and shows how attackers may reach high-value systems indirectly through smaller, less protected partners. 

4. The RSA SecurID Compromise 

In 2011, RSA experienced a breach after an employee opened a phishing email containing a malicious spreadsheet. The file exploited an unknown vulnerability and enabled attackers to extract data related to RSA’s authentication technology. 

The stolen information later contributed to further compromises at other organizations using the same authentication products. This incident revealed how a single user action can have consequences beyond one company, affecting entire security ecosystems. 

5. Executive Impersonation and Wire Transfer Abuse 

Executive impersonation attacks, commonly known as Business Email Compromise (BEC), involve criminals posing as senior leaders to request urgent financial transactions. These messages often reference confidential deals, acquisitions, or time-sensitive payments. 

A notable case involved a European aerospace firm that lost more than €50 million after staff received emails appearing to come from the CEO. Under pressure and secrecy, standard confirmation steps were bypassed, allowing the transfers to proceed. 

Conclusion 

These incidents confirm that social engineering attacks occur across industries and regions, regardless of company size or technical maturity. Each case shares a common pattern: trust was assumed, urgency was introduced, and verification was reduced or ignored. 

Strengthening user awareness, enforcing multi-step validation for sensitive actions, and encouraging employees to question unusual requests can greatly reduce exposure. In modern security programs, informed people remain a decisive protective layer against deception-based attacks.