Which term describes building trust with someone before exploiting them financially?

Study for the Certified Bank Secrecy Act Professional Test. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Get exam ready!

Building trust before exploiting someone financially is about grooming the victim—developing rapport and credibility to lower defenses so financial exploitation becomes easier. This long game of trust-building is captured by the term victim fattening, where the perpetrator makes the target feel comfortable, cared for, or indebted before asking for money or sensitive information. In fraud scenarios, the attacker might present themselves as helpful or friendly, gradually leading the victim to part with funds once trust is established.

Extortion describes demanding money under threat, which may occur later but isn’t about the initial trust-building phase. Scam awareness is a defensive concept focused on recognizing scams, not on the tactic itself. Financial institutions refer to the organizations involved or the context of financial activity, not a strategy used to exploit victims.