Social Engineering Attacks: Global Trends, Nigerian Case Studies, and Mitigation Strategies

Social engineering involves the psychological manipulation of individuals to obtain confidential information or induce them to perform actions that compromise security. Despite growing investments in cybersecurity infrastructure, human vulnerability remains the weakest link in digital defense systems, enabling attackers to bypass technical safeguards through deception. This paper examines the dynamics of social engineering attacks, highlighting global trends, Nigerian case studies, and key mitigation strategies. Drawing on secondary data from fraud reports and documented incidents, the study observes a notable shift from technical exploits to human-targeted deception techniques such as phishing, smishing, and impersonation. The Nigerian cases, particularly those involving political and financial fraud, mirror global patterns in both method and motivation. Findings indicate that social engineering remains one of the most pervasive and costly forms of cybercrime, primarily due to its exploitation of human error and trust. The study recommends sustained public awareness campaigns, stronger identity verification protocols, multi-factor authentication, and behaviour-based training as critical measures for mitigating these threats and enhancing digital security resilience.