This is an ABC podcast.

Chris Hadnaggy's job is to break into banks, but he's not after money, gold or jewels.

He's hunting for information.

And he doesn't use weapons or threats of violence to get past security and into vaults.

He uses a smile and a few tricks from his toolbag of psychology and social engineering techniques.

This is one example of how it works.

If somebody gives you a compliment, you usually compliment them back.

If someone gives you a gift, you want to re-gift and give them a gift back.

When we give somebody something, they feel indebted to us.

And that feeling of indebtedness makes them want to give us something.

It's hard to believe you can simply slip past some of the toughest security on the planet.

Banks, energy facilities, multinational corporations. But for Chris and others in his

industry, social engineering, it's part of everyday life. Not that it doesn't come with some

confronting complications. The parking lots were being secured by armed guards on dirt bikes.

So these guys are on dirt bikes in full body armor

with sawed-off shotguns at the side of their dirt bike.

You are listening to All in the Mind. I'm Sonne Kadar.

Today, producer James Bullen takes a look at the world of social engineering,

the psychology principles it builds upon,

and what personality traits might make

someone more vulnerable to being engineered?

Chris Hadnaggy always had a knack for influencing people.

...