Social engineering exploits psychological manipulation rather than technical vulnerabilities. Over the years, some of the most unusual cases have demonstrated the ingenuity of attackers in exploiting human trust. This article highlights some of the strangest and most controversial social engineering incidents, reflecting patterns discussed in What Is Social Engineering? Techniques, Risks, and Protection.
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1. Twitter Breach (2020)
What Happened?
Attackers impersonated colleagues in phone calls to Twitter employees. They gained access to internal systems and took over high-profile accounts, including Elon Musk and Bill Gates.
Why It’s Strange:
No sophisticated hacking tools were used—just psychological manipulation and trust exploitation, a textbook example of How Social Engineering Attacks Bypass Technical Security.
2. The Deepfake CEO Scam (2019)
What Happened?
Cybercriminals used deepfake voice technology to mimic the CEO of a German company and convinced a local manager to transfer $243,000 to a fraudulent bank account.
Why It’s Strange:
The realism of the voice attack aligns with risks explained in AI-Driven Social Manipulation, where authenticity is weaponized.
3. Kevin Mitnick’s Social Engineering Mastery
What Happened?
Kevin Mitnick used phone calls to manipulate employees into revealing confidential information, gaining access without exploiting software.
Why It’s Strange:
The attack relied entirely on human behavior, reinforcing concepts covered in The Psychology Behind Social Engineering Attacks.
4. Fake Elon Musk Twitter Giveaway
What Happened?
Scammers impersonated Elon Musk and promised to double cryptocurrency deposits sent to their wallets.
Why It’s Strange:
Despite being a simple scam, thousands of victims fell for it—mirroring tactics outlined in Online Scams & Digital Fraud: How to Spot, Avoid, and Recover (2026 Guide).
5. Target Data Breach (2013)
What Happened?
Attackers compromised a third-party HVAC company and used stolen credentials to access Target’s internal systems, exposing 40 million credit cards.
Why It’s Strange:
The primary victim was breached indirectly, a risk frequently discussed in Account Security and Recovery – How to Recover Hacked Accounts Legally.
6. Snapchat Payroll Data Leak (2016)
What Happened?
An employee received an email impersonating the CEO and sent payroll data without verification.
Why It’s Strange:
The simplicity of the email highlights failures in verification processes emphasized in Protection Against Social Engineering: A Comprehensive Guide for Individuals and Organizations.
7. Google & Facebook Invoice Scam (2013–2015)
What Happened?
Fake invoices totaling over $100 million were sent and paid due to their legitimate appearance.
Why It’s Strange:
The scam went undetected for years, illustrating weaknesses in procedural trust.
8. Bangladesh Bank Heist (2016)
What Happened?
Phishing emails enabled attackers to initiate fraudulent transfers, attempting to steal $1 billion.
Why It’s Strange:
The attack was partially stopped due to spelling errors—an example of how small human details can disrupt major breaches.
9. Fake Microsoft Support Calls
What Happened?
Attackers impersonated Microsoft support staff and convinced victims to install malware.
Why It’s Strange:
Despite being widely known, the scam remains effective—highlighting persistent trust exploitation.
10. Veritasium YouTube Channel Hack
What Happened?
A fake business proposal email led to full account takeover after a link click.
Why It’s Strange:
Even highly technical creators are vulnerable, reinforcing lessons from Why Social Engineering Attacks Are More Effective Than Malware.
How to Protect Yourself from Social Engineering
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Verify identities before sharing information
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Apply awareness training regularly
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Use multi-factor authentication
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Limit public exposure of sensitive details
These measures align closely with best practices outlined in Digital Privacy and Online Tracking: How You’re Tracked Online and How to Protect Yourself (2026 Guide).
Conclusion
These bizarre social engineering cases demonstrate that the most powerful cyberattacks often require no malware at all—only trust, timing, and manipulation. Understanding these incidents helps individuals and organizations recognize patterns before becoming victims themselves.
For official guidance on reporting fraud and manipulation, consult Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – Avoid Scams and Fraud.
