{"id":10718,"date":"2026-06-29T13:41:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T13:41:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickheal.co.in\/knowledge-centre\/?p=10718"},"modified":"2026-06-29T13:41:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T13:41:02","slug":"pretexting-explained-the-psychology-behind-fraud-calls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickheal.co.in\/knowledge-centre\/pretexting-explained-the-psychology-behind-fraud-calls\/","title":{"rendered":"Pretexting Explained: The Psychology Behind Fraud Calls"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"10718\" class=\"elementor elementor-10718\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f31998 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7f31998\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a0fc45 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0a0fc45\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.16.0 - 17-10-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<div><h3><u>Table of Contents<\/u><\/h3><div><ul><li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif;color: #000000;background-color: transparent;font-variant: normal;vertical-align: baseline;white-space: pre-wrap\">Understanding Pretexting<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif;color: #000000;background-color: transparent;font-variant: normal;vertical-align: baseline;white-space: pre-wrap\">What Is Pretexting in Cyber Security?<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif;color: #000000;background-color: transparent;font-variant: normal;vertical-align: baseline;white-space: pre-wrap\">How a Pretexting Attack Works<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif;color: #000000;background-color: transparent;font-variant: normal;vertical-align: baseline;white-space: pre-wrap\">The Psychology Behind Pretexting Scams<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif;color: #000000;background-color: transparent;font-variant: normal;vertical-align: baseline;white-space: pre-wrap\">Common Pretexting Attack Example Scenarios<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif;color: #000000;background-color: transparent;font-variant: normal;vertical-align: baseline;white-space: pre-wrap\">Why Manual Awareness Is No Longer Enough<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif;color: #000000;background-color: transparent;font-variant: normal;vertical-align: baseline;white-space: pre-wrap\">Red Flags That Indicate Pretexting<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif;color: #000000;background-color: transparent;font-variant: normal;vertical-align: baseline;white-space: pre-wrap\">Actionable Steps to Stay Safe<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif;color: #000000;background-color: transparent;font-variant: normal;vertical-align: baseline;white-space: pre-wrap\">Final Thoughts<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h3><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif;color: #000000;background-color: transparent;font-variant: normal;vertical-align: baseline;white-space: pre-wrap\">Understanding Pretexting<\/span><\/h3><div><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif;color: #000000;background-color: transparent;font-variant: normal;vertical-align: baseline;white-space: pre-wrap\">Cyber fraud in India is rising quickly. Government data shows that cybersecurity incidents increased from 10.29 lakh in 2022 to 22.68 lakh in 2024. This shows how fast digital threats are evolving, and why pretexting has become a serious concern.<br \/>So, what is pretexting? Pretexting is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickheal.co.in\/knowledge-centre\/social-engineering-how-ai-tricks-people-online\/?srsltid=AfmBOopO1DVqLIYRf0BlbrBze8qBwBq-jW8s9TpjCmpZgd_R08TyiJFe\">social engineering<\/a> tactic where a scammer creates a fake situation to trick someone into sharing sensitive information or taking unsafe action. They may pretend to be a bank employee, HR executive, police officer, courier agent, tech support representative or company official.<br \/>Now, what is pretexting in cyber security? It is a cyber threat that targets human trust instead of directly breaking into a system. Even strong passwords and secure apps can fail if a user is tricked into sharing an OTP, approving a payment or installing a suspicious app.<br \/>A pretexting attack can happen through phone calls, emails, SMS, WhatsApp messages, fake websites or video calls. A common pretexting attack example is a fraudster posing as a bank representative and claiming that your account will be blocked unless you \u201cverify\u201d an OTP immediately.<br \/>These pretexting scams often overlap with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickheal.co.in\/knowledge-centre\/what-is-phishing-attack\/?srsltid=AfmBOopBK4_1pCq2wOLKGI1G0nB9vvNbzLzGcKq1Zuo6oaM_rjQpvGYK\">phishing<\/a>. Pretexting creates the believable story, while phishing or other digital methods may be used to carry out the fraud.<br \/><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div>\u00a0<\/div><h3>How a Pretexting Attack Works<\/h3><div><p>A pretexting attack usually follows a planned pattern. The scammer creates a believable story, builds trust and then pushes the victim to act quickly.<\/p><ul><li><strong>Creates a fake reason to contact you<\/strong>: The attacker may call about a KYC update, failed courier delivery, suspicious bank transaction, refund request or customer support issue.<\/li><li><strong>Uses familiar details to build trust<\/strong>: The caller may mention your name, bank, location, recent order or partial account details to sound genuine.<\/li><li><strong>Creates urgency or fear<\/strong>: A pretexting attack often includes warnings such as account blocking, parcel return, refund expiry or legal action.<\/li><li><strong>Asks you to take immediate action<\/strong>: The scammer may ask you to share an OTP, install a remote access app, click a link, scan a QR code or approve a payment.<\/li><li><strong>Moves the scam across channels<\/strong>: Some pretexting attempts begin with a call and continue through SMS, WhatsApp, email or fake websites.<\/li><\/ul><h3>The Psychology Behind Pretexting Scams<\/h3><p>Pretexting scams work because they target emotions, not just devices. Fraudsters understand how people respond to fear, authority, urgency and reward.<br \/>A caller pretending to be from a bank creates authority. A message about account blocking creates fear. A fake refund creates excitement. A limited-time warning creates urgency. Together, these emotions reduce careful thinking.<br \/>Many pretexting calls also use politeness and confidence. The scammer may sound calm, helpful and professional. This makes the victim feel they are speaking to a genuine representative.<br \/>Another psychological trick is information confirmation. The attacker may give you partial details and ask you to \u201cconfirm\u201d the rest. For example, they may know your last four digits but ask for your full card number. This makes the request feel routine.<br \/>Imposter scams often use social engineering, spoofing and psychological manipulation to make victims share sensitive information or transfer money. This is why pretexting is not only a technical threat, but also a behavioural one.<\/p><h3><b>Common Pretexting Attack Example Scenarios<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A pretexting attack example can appear in many everyday situations. Here are some common scenarios:<\/span><\/p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><b>Scenario<\/b><\/p><\/td><td><p><b>How It Works<\/b><\/p><\/td><td><p><b>What the Scammer Wants<\/b><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fake Bank Call<\/span><\/p><\/td><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Caller says your account has suspicious activity.<\/span><\/p><\/td><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">OTP, PIN, card details or login access<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Courier Scam<\/span><\/p><\/td><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Caller says a parcel is stuck or needs a fee.<\/span><\/p><\/td><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Payment, address or identity details<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tech Support Scam<\/span><\/p><\/td><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Caller says your device is infected.<\/span><\/p><\/td><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Remote access or payment<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Job Verification Scam<\/span><\/p><\/td><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Caller claims to verify your profile.<\/span><\/p><\/td><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Personal documents or bank details<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Refund Scam<\/span><\/p><\/td><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Caller promises a refund or cashback.<\/span><\/p><\/td><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">UPI approval or account details<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Police or Legal Threat<\/span><\/p><\/td><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Caller claims your ID is linked to a case.<\/span><\/p><\/td><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fear-based payment or information<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A common pretexting attack example is a fraudster pretending to be from a bank and saying that your account will be frozen unless you verify an OTP. Another pretexting attack example is a fake courier call asking for a small fee to release a parcel.<\/span><\/p><h3>Why Manual Awareness Is No Longer Enough<\/h3><p>Earlier, scam calls were easier to identify because they sounded unprofessional or generic. Today, pretexting has become more convincing. Fraudsters may use leaked data, spoofed numbers, AI-generated voices and detailed scripts.<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickheal.co.in\/knowledge-centre\/scammers-phone-spoofing-how-to-prevent-it\/?srsltid=AfmBOoo1QyIsVXTbUg4yTzzjDlo5nOMiV8PlmQwLEn4g12YSyq10U2we\">Phone spoofing<\/a> can make a caller ID appear familiar or legitimate, which increases the chance of trust. Some scammers may even continue the same pretexting attempt across different channels, such as a call followed by a WhatsApp link or SMS.<br \/>Manual judgment is still important, but users also need stronger digital protection. Quick Heal\u2019s AntiFraud.AI is designed to help detect phishing, deepfake attacks and spam emails using AI-driven fraud detection and threat intelligence.<\/p><\/div><h3>Red Flags That Indicate Pretexting<\/h3><p>A pretexting call may sound genuine, but certain warning signs can help you identify it.<\/p><ul><li>The caller creates urgency or fear.<\/li><li>They ask for OTPs, PINs, passwords or CVV details.<\/li><li>They ask you to download an app during the call.<\/li><li>They insist that you stay on the call while acting.<\/li><li>They discourage you from contacting official support.<\/li><li>They ask for payment to release a parcel, refund or service.<\/li><li>They use threats involving police, bank blocking or legal action.<\/li><li>They send links, QR codes or files through SMS or WhatsApp.<\/li><\/ul><p>If a caller pressures you to act immediately, it may be a pretexting attack.<\/p><h4>Legal Recourse for Victims of Pretexting<\/h4><p>A pretexting attack may fall under laws related to cheating by impersonation, cyber fraud and misuse of digital systems.<br \/>Victims should immediately report financial cyber fraud by calling 1930 or filing a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.<br \/>They should also inform their bank, block affected cards or accounts and save all evidence.<br \/>A common pretexting attack example is a fraudster posing as a bank employee and asking for an OTP to \u201cverify\u201d an account.<br \/>In such pretexting scams, victims should keep screenshots, call details, messages, transaction IDs and fake links as proof.<br \/>For serious cases, they can also visit the nearest cyber police station and file an FIR.<\/p><h3>Actionable Steps to Stay Safe<\/h3><p>You can reduce the risk of pretexting scams by slowing down and verifying every request.<br \/>Do not share OTPs, PINs, passwords or card details on calls.<br \/>Disconnect if the caller creates panic or urgency.<br \/>Call the official number from the bank, courier or company website.<br \/>Do not install remote access apps on request.<br \/>Avoid clicking links sent during suspicious calls.<br \/>Do not approve UPI collect requests from unknown people.<br \/>Enable<a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickheal.co.in\/knowledge-centre\/two-factor-authentication-for-online-security\/?srsltid=AfmBOoqt9QfjpvdBTnvK2cX64JYBk4UEZbaH8mZylHuRCfxhUtjqrLF9\"> multi-factor authentication<\/a> on important accounts.<br \/>Keep your phone, banking apps and security software updated.<br \/>Report suspicious calls and block repeated scam numbers.<br \/>Educate family members, especially elders, about pretexting.<br \/>A safe rule is simple: if the call asks for confidential information, treat it as suspicious.<\/p><h3>Final Thoughts<\/h3><p>Pretexting succeeds because it sounds believable. The attacker does not always need to hack a system if they can convince a person to share sensitive details or approve an action.<br \/>This is why users need both awareness and protection. Pretexting often overlaps with phishing, spoofing, malicious links, fake apps and fraud calls. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickheal.co.in\/quick-heal-antifraud\">Quick Heal AntiFraud.AI<\/a> helps users stay alert against digital fraud, phishing, suspicious calls and scam tactics. It uses threat intelligence gathered from real-world fraud data to adapt to emerging fraud.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents Understanding Pretexting What Is Pretexting in Cyber Security? How a Pretexting Attack Works The Psychology Behind Pretexting Scams Common Pretexting Attack Example Scenarios Why Manual Awareness Is No Longer Enough Red Flags That Indicate Pretexting Actionable Steps to Stay Safe Final Thoughts Understanding Pretexting Cyber fraud in India is rising quickly. Government [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":10720,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10718","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickheal.co.in\/knowledge-centre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10718","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickheal.co.in\/knowledge-centre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickheal.co.in\/knowledge-centre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickheal.co.in\/knowledge-centre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/113"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickheal.co.in\/knowledge-centre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10718"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickheal.co.in\/knowledge-centre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10718\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10723,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickheal.co.in\/knowledge-centre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10718\/revisions\/10723"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickheal.co.in\/knowledge-centre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10720"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickheal.co.in\/knowledge-centre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10718"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickheal.co.in\/knowledge-centre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10718"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickheal.co.in\/knowledge-centre\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}