- A
Tailgating
Why wrong: Tailgating involves following an authorized person into a restricted area without proper authentication. This scenario involves a phone call, not physical access.
- B
Pretexting
Pretexting is when an attacker invents a plausible scenario to trick a victim into providing information or access. The caller's false identity as IT staff is a classic pretext.
- C
Phishing
Why wrong: Phishing typically uses electronic communication like email or fake websites. This attack was conducted over the phone, making pretexting a more accurate description.
- D
Baiting
Why wrong: Baiting offers something enticing (like a free USB drive) to trick victims. This scenario involves a direct request for information, not an offer.
Question 468 of 750
Pretexting: Attacker Impersonates IT on Phone
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of social engineering attacks. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A receptionist at a company receives a call from someone claiming to be from the IT department. The caller says they need her password to perform an urgent server update. The receptionist provides the password. What type of social engineering attack is this?
Quick Answer
The answer is pretexting. This is the correct choice because the attacker constructed a fabricated scenario—or pretext—by impersonating an IT staff member to create a false sense of urgency and authority, specifically requesting the receptionist’s password for a fake server update. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish pretexting from other social engineering attacks like phishing or vishing; a common trap is confusing it with vishing, but vishing is voice-based phishing that typically uses fear or reward, whereas pretexting relies on building a believable role and story. A key memory tip is to think of the word “pretext” as a “pre-written script” the attacker follows to act out a part—here, the part of an IT technician.
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
✓
Pretexting
Pretexting is a social engineering attack where the attacker fabricates a scenario (the pretext) to manipulate the target into divulging sensitive information. In this case, the caller falsely claims to be from the IT department and invokes an urgent server update to trick the receptionist into revealing her password. This is not a technical exploit but a psychological manipulation that relies on the target's trust in authority and urgency.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Tailgating
Why it's wrong here
Tailgating involves following an authorized person into a restricted area without proper authentication. This scenario involves a phone call, not physical access.
- ✓
Pretexting
Why this is correct
Pretexting is when an attacker invents a plausible scenario to trick a victim into providing information or access. The caller's false identity as IT staff is a classic pretext.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Phishing
Why it's wrong here
Phishing typically uses electronic communication like email or fake websites. This attack was conducted over the phone, making pretexting a more accurate description.
- ✗
Baiting
Why it's wrong here
Baiting offers something enticing (like a free USB drive) to trick victims. This scenario involves a direct request for information, not an offer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between pretexting and phishing by emphasizing that pretexting relies on a fabricated scenario (often via phone or in-person) rather than a technical lure or electronic message, so candidates mistakenly choose phishing when the attack vector is a voice call.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Tailgating involves following an authorized person into a restricted area without proper authentication. This scenario involves a phone call, not physical access.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Pretexting often involves the attacker researching the target's organization (e.g., using LinkedIn or company directories) to make the fabricated scenario more believable. In a real-world scenario, an attacker might spoof the caller ID to display the IT department's internal extension, leveraging VoIP or PBX vulnerabilities to bypass caller authentication. This attack exploits human psychology rather than technical flaws, making it a common vector in social engineering penetration tests like those outlined in the OSSTMM.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Social Engineering Attacks — This question tests Social Engineering Attacks — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Pretexting — Pretexting is a social engineering attack where the attacker fabricates a scenario (the pretext) to manipulate the target into divulging sensitive information. In this case, the caller falsely claims to be from the IT department and invokes an urgent server update to trick the receptionist into revealing her password. This is not a technical exploit but a psychological manipulation that relies on the target's trust in authority and urgency.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on 220-1202
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A technician receives a call from someone claiming to be from the company's IT security team, asking for the administrator password to 'run a critical update.' The caller's voice sounds stressed and they mention a data breach. What should the technician do?
easy- A.Provide the password immediately to prevent a data breach.
- ✓ B.Ask for a callback number and verify it against the company directory.
- C.Ignore the call because IT never calls about updates.
- D.Change the password and give them the new one.
Why B: Option B is correct because it follows the principle of verifying identity through a trusted channel before disclosing sensitive information. The technician should ask for a callback number and cross-reference it against the company directory to ensure the caller is legitimate, as social engineering attacks often use urgency and impersonation to bypass security protocols.
Variation 2. A new employee is setting up their workstation and receives a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IT department. The caller says there is a critical security update and needs the employee's login credentials to install it remotely. What social engineering principle is the attacker primarily exploiting?
easy- A.Urgency
- B.Scarcity
- ✓ C.Authority
- D.Social proof
Why C: The attacker is impersonating IT staff, which leverages the principle of authority. By claiming to be from the IT department, the attacker exploits the employee's tendency to comply with perceived organizational authority, especially regarding security updates. This is a classic social engineering tactic where the attacker uses a trusted role to bypass security protocols.
Variation 3. A technician is configuring a new employee's workstation. The employee mentions that a 'friendly IT guy' from the help desk called earlier and asked for their username and temporary password to 'pre-setup the account'. The employee provided the information. What should the technician do first?
medium- A.Proceed with the setup as planned, since the employee already provided the info.
- ✓ B.Reset the employee's password and report the incident to the security team.
- C.Call the help desk to verify if they made the call.
- D.Tell the employee it was likely a test and to ignore it.
Why B: Option B is correct because the employee has already fallen victim to a social engineering attack (phishing or vishing). The technician must immediately reset the compromised password to prevent unauthorized access and report the incident to the security team so they can investigate and mitigate further risk. This follows the principle of least privilege and incident response best practices for credential compromise.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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