What attack technique uses a fake identity to create urgency for a target?

The technique that utilizes a fake identity to create urgency for a target is pretexting. Pretexting is a form of social engineering where an attacker constructs a scenario or a pretext to manipulate a victim into divulging confidential information or performing actions they wouldn’t normally do. By establishing a false identity or situation that seems believable, the attacker can induce a sense of urgency or necessity in the target, prompting them to respond quickly without fully evaluating the risks involved.

This method often involves impersonating someone the target knows or trusts, for instance, a colleague, a service provider, or even a government official, which can enhance the likelihood of convincing the target to provide sensitive information or take an action beneficial to the attacker. The effectiveness of pretexting relies heavily on the attacker’s ability to craft a credible narrative that elicits an emotional response, such as fear or urgency, thus overriding the target's typical security protocols or skepticism.