FC0-U71 Security Practice Question
An employee receives an email that appears to be from the CEO, urgently requesting a wire transfer to an external vendor. The email address looks slightly off. Which type of social engineering attack is this?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Spear phishing
This is a phishing attack, specifically spear phishing because it targets a specific individual (the employee) and impersonates the CEO to steal money.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Pretexting
Why it's wrong here
Pretexting involves creating a false scenario, but it does not necessarily involve email impersonation.
- ✓
Spear phishing
Why this is correct
Spear phishing targets a specific person or organization with a tailored message.
- ✗
Phishing
Why it's wrong here
Phishing is a general term; this is a targeted variant.
- ✗
Vishing
Why it's wrong here
Vishing uses voice calls, not email.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This FC0-U71 question is part of Courseiva's 988-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This FC0-U71 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the FC0-U71 exam.