Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

social engineering
     
        Term used among {cracker}s and {samurai} for cracking
        techniques that rely on weaknesses in {wetware} rather than
        software; the aim is to trick people into revealing passwords
        or other information that compromises a target system's
        security.  Classic scams include phoning up a mark who has the
        required information and posing as a field service tech or a
        fellow employee with an urgent access problem.  See also the
        {tiger team} story in the {patch} entry.
     
        [{Jargon File}]