Which term is used to describe attackers tricking a target into thinking they are someone they know, increasing likelihood of interaction with a phishing email?

• A. Typosquatting
• B. Impersonation
• C. Spear Phishing
• D. Homographs

Answer: (B)

Impersonation is the tactic where attackers masquerade as someone the target knows, such as a coworker or supervisor, to build trust and prompt interaction with a phishing message. People are more likely to engage with messages that appear to come from a familiar or trusted source, so adopting a known identity increases the chance the recipient will open the email, click a link, or share credentials. Typosquatting and homographs focus on spoofing the sender’s address or domain visually, not on pretending to be a familiar person. Spear phishing targets individuals with tailored content, but the specific deception described—pretending to be someone the target knows—fits impersonation most directly.