You might think sophisticated hackers need to crack complex codes or plant hidden devices to steal your company’s secrets. But the truth is, sometimes the easiest way in is through your own front door…or rather, your microphone.

This week, I heard a chilling story about a client. An executive, let’s call him Chris, was contacted on LinkedIn by a marketing professional named John, who had a large following. John claimed to be working for an AI research group exploring the use and challenges of AI in Chris’ industry. Chris, with a strong technology background and reputation as a subject matter expert (SME), was a prime candidate.

John offered Chris $300 to participate in a one-hour roundtable discussion. It seemed like easy money. Chris agreed and signed an NDA and an engagement agreement.

The rules of the engagement? Chris had to stay on the call for the full hour to get paid—no exceptions.

When the call started, it was just Chris and the moderator, Marco. They discussed AI for about 10 minutes when, suddenly, Marco disappeared from the call. Chris stayed on, waiting for Marco to return, as per the agreement.

While Chris was waiting, two of his colleagues dropped by his office. First, his marketing director shared details about the release plans and strategy for their latest product. Then, his IT director informed him they were postponing a critical firewall update for a zero-day vulnerability due to a sick team member.

Unbeknownst to Chris, the meeting with Marco was being recorded the entire time. Chris’ microphone picked up everything that was said. Now, Marco has highly sensitive information about Chris’ business—its plans and vulnerabilities.

The Lesson? Social engineering isn’t always about breaking in; sometimes, it’s about being invited in. Stay vigilant and protect your conversations, even when they don’t seem like a security risk.

Could this happen in your office?