Social Engineering is a non-technology identity fraud practice of someone either in person, over the telephone, or computer, uses means to deceive someone else into divulging sensitive information.
Usually, social engineers know some information that lead the victim to believe they are legitimate and give the information asked. Social engineering is commonly known as a “con game” and is perpetrated by “con-men”. See also Pretexting.
Ref.: http://www.utica.edu/academic/institutes/cimip/idcrimes/schemes.cfmZ