An account takeover attack (ATO) happens when cybercriminals break into someone’s online accounts like email, banking, or social media by stealing or tricking them into giving away their login details. Once they get in, attackers can steal money, collect private information, or pretend to be the victim to scam others.
A famous case was the 2020 Twitter hack, where attackers took over around 130 big accounts, including those of Elon Musk, Barack Obama, and Apple. They used these accounts to push a Bitcoin scam, causing financial loss and damaging Twitter’s reputation.
These incidents show that ATOs are not just about technology. They also target human psychology. Attackers often create fear, urgency, or false trust to pressure people into handing over control. That’s why understanding the human side of these attacks is key, it’s the first step in teaching both businesses and individuals how to protect themselves.
Common Psychology of Account Takeover Attacks
Attackers employ various tactics when launching account takeover (ATO) attacks, including:
1. Phishing and Impersonation
Phishing and impersonation attacks have become much more advanced compared to the old days of generic scam emails. Here are some examples:
- Personalized phishing messages: Instead of random spam, attackers now research their targets using leaked data, social media, or even company records. With this information, they create emails or websites that look almost identical to real ones. Security experts have reported a rise in typosquatting (fake domains that look nearly the same as the original) to trick users into entering their login details.
- AI-powered emails: Attackers now rely on generative AI to write professional, natural-sounding emails in different languages, making them harder to detect and more convincing for their victims.
- Voice and video impersonation: A new trend is AI-assisted voice phishing (vishing). Criminals use short public audio clips to clone the voice of managers or executives. They then call employees (especially in finance or customer support) pretending to be the boss and asking for urgent transfers or access. Real-world cases have already been reported, and even consumer watchdogs have issued warnings about this growing threat.
Also Read: How Phishing Campaigns Fuel Account Takeover Attempts
2. Credential Stuffing & Weak Passwords
Credential stuffing has become a fast, large-scale attack method. Cybercriminals collect or purchase massive “combo lists” of stolen usernames and passwords from past data breaches or malware logs.
With automated tools like OpenBullet or SentryMBA, plus cheap residential proxies and even CAPTCHA-solving services, they can try these credentials across thousands of websites at once. The tactic works mainly because many people reuse the same weak or predictable passwords across different accounts.
A real-world case happened with Disney+ in 2019, right after its launch. Many accounts were taken over and sold online. Investigations revealed that attackers weren’t exploiting Disney’s system directly, instead, they were logging in with leaked usernames and passwords that users had already reused elsewhere.
3. Exploiting Emotional Triggers
In practice, this appears in several ways:
- Disaster-related scams: attackers send fake charity or donation requests to exploit empathy after natural disasters or crises.
- Romance scams: criminals build trust with victims over weeks or months, then request money under the guise of personal emergencies.
- AI-powered vishing: voice deepfakes are used to impersonate executives, employees, or even family members, tricking victims into transferring money or revealing credentials.
4. Social Engineering
Social engineering is still one of the most powerful account takeover methods because it targets people, not systems. Attackers now use multiple channels like email, phone calls, chat apps, and even deepfake video to build trust and trick victims into handing over sensitive information.
A common method is pretexting, where criminals pretend to be IT staff, vendors, or colleagues. Under the guise of urgency or authority, they pressure victims into giving up login credentials or approving access requests.
5. Fake Alerts and Offers
Fake alerts and “too-good-to-be-true” offers are one of the oldest phishing tricks, but today they’re more sophisticated and multi-channel.
Attackers don’t just send emails, they now use SMS (smishing), in-app messages, and even social media posts to create urgency. These messages often claim your account will be suspended, a payment has failed, or that you’re eligible for a free subscription or refund. The goal is simple: trigger panic or excitement so you click a link or enter your login details without thinking.
The Impact of Account Takeovers on Users and Businesses
Impact on users:
- Financial losses due to stolen funds
- Loss of access to personal or critical accounts
- Digital trauma and a sense of insecurity online
Impact on businesses:
- Direct and indirect financial damages
- Reputational harm
- Decline in customer trust
How to Educate Users on Preventing Account Takeovers
Teach users about common attack methods such as phishing and social engineering so they can spot warning signs.
1. Teaching Users About Common Attack Methods
Organizations should provide ongoing training that helps users recognize the most common attack techniques, such as phishing emails, fake login pages, and social engineering phone calls. For example, sending test phishing emails can be especially effective in teaching users how to identify red flags like suspicious URLs, unexpected attachments, or urgent language.
2. Promoting Strong Password Practices and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Users should be encouraged to create unique, complex passwords for every account and avoid predictable patterns such as “123456” or their date of birth. Training should also emphasize the importance of using password managers to reduce the risk of weak or reused credentials. At the same time, organizations need to push for MFA adoption, since an extra verification factor (like a code sent to a mobile device or a biometric scan) can block attackers even if a password is compromised.
3. Raising Awareness About the Dangers of Reusing Passwords
Many users underestimate the risks of reusing the same password across multiple platforms. Educators should explain how credential stuffing works: attackers take leaked passwords from one breach and try them on other accounts, often gaining access within minutes. Real-world examples, such as breaches involving social media or streaming services, can be used to demonstrate how quickly reused credentials can fuel account takeovers. The message should be clear “one password, one account”
Conclusion
Preventing account takeovers takes two things: awareness and technology. Users need to know how to spot scams and use safe practices like strong, unique passwords. But that’s only half the story, businesses also need smart tools that can catch and block attacks in real time.
This is where Keypaz comes in. As the first AI-powered verification platform in Asia, Keypaz helps companies detect suspicious activity, prevent fraud, and protect user accounts — all without making the login experience harder. Already trusted by 300+ businesses, Keypaz makes security stronger while keeping things simple for users.