Understanding social engineering in the recruitment industry: The broad range of threats and how to stay safe

Trust and confidentiality are the cornerstones of recruitment. Your agency handles sensitive data every day. This includes CVs, ID documents, and bank details. These valuable pieces of information must be protected.

However, cybercriminals are increasingly targeting recruitment agencies. They see your business as a lucrative target and their goal is to exploit human vulnerabilities. They use social engineering techniques to trick users into making mistakes.

Social engineering is a growing threat. It relies on manipulation rather than technical hacking. These social engineering attacks happen often without being detected immediately. They can cause serious financial and reputational damage. In 2024, there was significant surge in phishing and social engineering incidents, with 42% of organisations experiencing such breaches, according to the World Economic Forum’s Cybersecurity Report.¹

This article aims to raise awareness. It will explain what social engineering is and how it affects recruitment. You will learn about common tactics used by scammers. Most importantly, you will discover practical steps to protect your agency. Staying informed is your best defence against these hidden threats.

What are social engineering attacks?

Social engineering is a manipulation technique used by cyber criminals. Instead of hacking into systems, they target people by exploiting human interaction and human error. They rely on psychological manipulation to gain access to sensitive information. This can include login credentials, financial information, or identity theft.

Scammers often pretend to be someone trustworthy. They might pose as a colleague, client, or senior executive to encourage users to engage with false threats or promises. Their goal is to trick users into revealing sensitive data or performing actions. This could include installing software or opening attachments that disperse malware.

These attacks are not about complex code or technical exploits. Instead, they exploit human vulnerabilities like helpfulness, trust, and urgency. For example, a scammer might create a sense of pressure to rush your decision or use familiarity to lower your guard. Scammers commonly do this through phishing emails or text messages. The victims feel encouraged or pressured to click links to malicious sites.

Because social engineering relies on human behaviour, it’s harder to detect than traditional hacking. It preys on natural instincts to help or respond quickly. Work or home computers, phone records, and physical media are all points of vulnerability. Any of these can harbour links to malicious sites or applications infected with malware. Interacting with an infected link or app can spread the malware to other devices or systems.

Recognising these tactics is crucial to prevent falling victim. Potential victims often belong to a group or team with certain access rights. Or they might regularly visit suspicious sources or use unsecured WIFI in a public cafe. Fictitious threats or false alarms are designed to get victims to compromise the account's protection or provide sensitive information to attackers.

Understanding how phising campaigns and watering hole attacks operate can help determine your points of vulnerability. You should train all employees about common forms of baiting scams and what links to malicious sites can look like. Most importantly, your employees should be trained on how to verify legitimate sources. Crucially, trained users are likely to be more cautious before performing any actions.

Why recruitment agencies are targets

Recruitment agencies handle large amounts of sensitive data every day, including:

• Personal details
• Banking information
• Employment records
• Payroll
• Contractor payments
• Client fees.

Because of this, agencies are attractive targets for cyber criminals. They offer a lot of potential for quick gains when attackers intercept or manipulate their sensitive data. This can lead to significant financial losses for agencies. Weak security protocols and breaks in security allow attackers to disperse malware or install software that links to malicious sites. And once attackers are given access through these sites, they can take what they want.

Unfortunately, the fast-paced nature of recruitment creates ample opportunities for scams. Urgent requests and quick decisions are common in the recruitment working environment. Criminals exploit this to encourage users to perform actions without proper verification. They commonly use phishing emails, text messages, or phone calls to encourage victims to open attachments or visit malicious sites.

It's therefore particularly important that recruitment leaders understand these tactics and potential points of attack. This can help prevent further attacks and protect sensitive information from attackers.

Common tactics used by cybercriminals

Cybercriminals use a variety of tactics to deceive recruitment agencies. They often impersonate trusted individuals or organisations to trick your team into sharing information or transferring money. Their goal is to get employees to break security practices and give them access. From there, they simply exploit the user's trust to get them to perform actions that further attacks.

One common tactic is impersonation via email. Scammers send phishing emails pretending to be a client, candidate, or colleague. These emails often look legitimate, using familiar branding and language from legitimate sources. The wording in the emails encourage victims to:

• Open attachments
• Visit malicious sites that disperse malware
• Install software that can lead to possible infections.

Once the scammer has gained the victim’s trust that the email is legitimate, they can get the victim to break security practices and compromise system protections. Scammers may ask the victim to provide login credentials, update bank details or request urgent payments.

The other element of phishing campaigns involves cyber criminals creating fake domains and websites. Criminals register malicious sites that closely resemble real company sites. Then they create a link that the victims will click on in the phishing email to take them to the site. They use these malicious websites to deceive your team into believing they are dealing with a trusted partner. This can lead to victims sharing sensitive data or transferring funds.

In more sophisticated phishing campaigns, attackers may cover their tracks after gaining access to your system. They may use additional attacks to 'open a window' in your system's security so they can access your data at will.

Scammers also intercept communication channels. They may hijack email threads or set up fake phone numbers. Their aim is to reroute payments or gather confidential information without your knowledge. They might use phone records or background information to quickly determine potential victims and target group members.

Cold calling is another common method. Criminals may call your office claiming to have an urgent need or a simple resolution. They create a sense of urgency to rush your decision-making. With the use of AI, the latest cold calling attacks can sometimes mimic the voice of someone you trust to get you to comply.

These tactics are designed to exploit human trust and our natural desire to help. Recognising these methods and creating added security measures is key to preventing scams.

Tips to protect your sensitive information

Protecting your agency from social engineering scams requires proactive steps.

1. Always verify the identities of new clients and contacts. Use video calls and ID checks for high-value transactions. Don’t rely solely on email or phone records. Be cautious of suspicious sources that may encourage victims to install software or open attachments.
2. Check the digital domain of any new or suspicious organisation. Use tools like Whois Lookup or ScamAdviser to confirm legitimacy. Look for recent registration dates or inconsistencies that could indicate malicious sites or links to malicious content. Familiarise yourself with legitimate websites - their layout, security protocols and URL. This will help you recognise a fraudulent website or email when you see it.
3. Use third-party platforms for background checks. Services like Trulioo, Entrust, or Thirdfort can verify identities and conduct KYC checks. This adds an extra layer of protection.
4. Consider using escrow services or requesting advance payments before processing large transactions. This helps protect your agency from fraud and further attacks.
5. Train your team regularly. Use real case studies to show common scams and how social engineering works. Make sure everyone understands potential points where human error could break security practices. Educate staff on phishing emails, text messages, and links to malicious sites.
6. Establish clear internal protocols. Create a process for verifying unusual requests. Encourage staff to double-check with a supervisor before performing actions that involve sensitive information or financial information. This helps prevent further attacks and protects the account's protection.
7. Implement governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC) protocols. Regularly review potential red flags and conduct internal audits. Be alert for false alarms or potential points where cyber criminals might exploit human interaction.

By following these prevention tips, you can better defend your agency. Staying vigilant and verifying requests can save you from costly scams. Remember, prevention is your best defence against social engineering threats and further attacks.

How cyber insurance can protect your recruitment agency

Cyber insurance plays a vital role in protecting your agency. It helps cover financial losses caused by social engineering scams and other cyber threats. However, not all policies are the same. It is important to understand what your policy includes.

Many standard cyber insurance policies do not fully cover social engineering attacks. Make sure your policy specifically covers social engineering incidents. This can include losses from fake emails, fraudulent requests, or fictitious threats.

Crime insurance is another important coverage. It protects against internal and external fraud. If an employee or outsider manipulates your staff into transferring funds or installing software that spreads malware, crime insurance can help recover those losses.

Funds transfer fraud coverage is also essential. It protects against unauthorised or manipulated payments. If scammers trick your team into sending money to a fake account or malicious site, this coverage can help recover the funds.

Having the right cyber insurance is not a substitute for good security practices. It acts as a safety net. It can help you recover quickly if a scam succeeds. Combining strong prevention measures with proper insurance gives your recruitment agency the best protection against common attacks.

Some final tips

Stay vigilant at all times. The recruitment industry moves fast, and scammers exploit that speed. Always verify unusual requests before performing actions.

Train your team regularly. Emphasise the importance of questioning suspicious emails or calls. Give reminders on how to follow internal protocols for verifying sensitive requests.

Review your cyber insurance coverage periodically. Make sure it includes cover for social engineering, business email compromise, crime, and funds transfer fraud. Consult with experts to keep your protections up to date.

Lastly, remember that awareness is your best defence. Stay alert, stay protected. Your reputation and finances depend on it.

Sources

1. reports.weforum.org/WEF_Global_Cybersecurity_Outlook_2025.pdf