Email phishing tests
Approved email pretexts built from what your staff really receive, sent in a staggered, authorized way.
The Problem
Attackers Do Not Hack Your Firewall, They Call Your Help Desk
Most breaches start with a convincing message or call, not an exploit. The weak point is often a process in your team that lets a stranger reset a password or change bank details.
Help desk
A caller gets a password reset with no real identity check.
Help desk
We test the reset flow and give you a verification step that holds.
Finance
An email asks finance to change a supplier's bank details.
Finance
We test the request and add a call-back rule before any change.
Blame
A test names the one person who clicked and stops there.
Blame
We measure reporting across teams and fix the process behind it.
One channel
Only email is tested, so phone and text stay open.
One channel
We test email, phone, and text, since attackers use all three.
Your spam filter is strong and your laptops are patched. Then someone calls the help desk, says they are locked out before a big meeting, and gets a password reset with no real identity check. Or a finance staffer gets an email from the chief executive asking to change a supplier's bank details, and pays. These are not technical failures. They are gaps in how your people and processes respond under pressure. You cannot see them from a dashboard, and an attacker only has to find one.
We test the moments attackers actually use. With your written authorization, we try realistic pretexts across email, phone, and text: a help desk reset, a finance change, a login prompt. We measure what matters, which is whether your staff verify and report, not who slipped. Then we tie each result to a fix: a call-back rule for bank changes, an identity check before resets, a clear way to report. You get a map of where your processes bend and the changes that make them hold.
Email, phone, and text tested
We try realistic pretexts across all three channels, because an attacker will pick whichever one your team guards least.
Processes, not just people
We test the rules behind resets, payments, and access, so you fix a weak process, not a person.
Measured by who reports
We track how many of your staff report each attempt, so you build a team that catches the real one.
Our Social Engineering Testing Process
From Authorization to a Process Fix List in Five Steps
You set the rules and approve every pretext. You watch the tests run across channels, then get results by process and team, with fixes instead of a list of names.
You tell us your goals, your sensitive processes, and any limits. Together we agree which channels, teams, and pretexts are in scope, and what stays off limits. You sign an authorization form, and we lock a fixed price. Only the staff you clear are in scope, and every test runs remotely.
What's Included
What You Get With Social Engineering Penetration Testing
You get approved pretexts across email, phone, and text, process tests for resets and payments, reporting measured by team, a fix list, and an optional retest.
Compare Options
DeveloperLook vs a Phishing Tool vs a Large Firm
A phishing tool runs email campaigns cheaply, and a large firm brings scale for big tenders. Here is where each fits a social engineering test and where it stops.
| Feature | DeveloperLookBest fit | Phishing tool | Large firm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting cost | From $900 | Monthly licence | Quoted per engagement |
| Email tests | Built and run for you | You build them | |
| Phone and text | Both tested by hand | Email only | Often extra |
| Process testing | Resets and payments tried | Not covered | Sometimes included |
| Scoring | By team and process | Click rates only | In a long report |
| Blame-free | Results stay anonymous | Per-user tracking | Varies by firm |
| Fix help | Each finding has a fix | Generic tips | Report only |
| Best for | Testing real responses | Ongoing phishing | Large programs |
DeveloperLook
Phishing tool
- Starting cost
- DeveloperLook: From $900Phishing tool: Monthly licence
- Email tests
- DeveloperLook: Built and run for youPhishing tool: You build them
- Phone and text
- DeveloperLook: Both tested by handPhishing tool: Email only
- Process testing
- DeveloperLook: Resets and payments triedPhishing tool: Not covered
- Scoring
- DeveloperLook: By team and processPhishing tool: Click rates only
- Blame-free
- DeveloperLook: Results stay anonymousPhishing tool: Per-user tracking
- Fix help
- DeveloperLook: Each finding has a fixPhishing tool: Generic tips
- Best for
- DeveloperLook: Testing real responsesPhishing tool: Ongoing phishing
Projects We've Built
Businesses and Teams We Have Built For
We build the internal systems and staff-facing tools that social engineers target, so we understand the processes your team relies on day to day.
NextEdge Startup Web Design & Development
- Startups
- Technology
- Business
Armada AG Fiduciary and Consulting Services Website
- Finance
- Business
- Website
Destinata Beyond Luxury Concierge Service Website
- Business
- Website
Herile IT Agency Web Design & Development
- Agency
- Website
What Our Clients Say
What Clients Say After Launch
Feedback from teams we have built and supported internal systems for.
We had a pretty specific idea of what we wanted our website to become, but I wasn’t sure how easily we could explain all of it to a development team. There were quite a few moving parts, and we were working toward a deadline, so I expected a few things to get lost along the way. That never really happened. They understood what we were trying to achieve, kept us updated throughout the process, and got everything ready within the agreed timeline. The final site feels much easier to navigate, works beautifully on mobile, and is noticeably smoother for our customers. It was a huge relief seeing the original idea actually turn into the website we had in mind.
The mobile experience is probably my favourite part of the new site. We had spent a lot of time making sure the desktop version looked right, and the team kept pushing us to think about how everything would actually feel on a phone too. They were right. The navigation is clean, the interactions feel natural, and everything we’ve tested so far works exactly as it should. They also went through the links, forms, integrations, and other details more than once before launch, which I really appreciated. And even after going live, we could still reach out when something came up. The whole process felt friendly, organised, and surprisingly straightforward.
What I appreciate most is that the website is actually easy for us to manage now. We can update content ourselves instead of sending a developer a message every time we need to change something small. They also paid attention to the technical SEO side, which mattered to us because we didn’t want a new website to create problems for the traffic we already had. I’ve probably asked more questions than I should have since launch, but every question has been handled patiently and without any fuss. The team is easy to work with, they explain things clearly, and when we need something changed, they focus on getting it done rather than making the process complicated.
1,250+
Projects shipped
10+
Years of experience
Top 3%
Upwork Top Rated Plus
5 stars
Average review score
1,250+
Projects shipped
10+
Years of experience
Top 3%
Upwork Top Rated Plus
5 stars
Average review score
Want results like these?
Tell us what you are building. You get a reply within 24 hours on business days, then a written estimate.
Work Culture
Why Security Leads Trust Us With a People Test
A people test puts your staff under real pressure, so your trust and our care matter. These habits keep your test fair, safe, and genuinely useful.
Authorized and scoped
We test only with your written authorization and an agreed scope. Every pretext is approved by you before it goes out, and off-limit topics stay off limits.
We do not name and shame
Results are reported by team and by process, not by individual. The point is to fix your system, so your staff stay willing to report the next real attempt.
We test the real moments
Pretexts come from what your staff actually receive, not generic templates. A test is only useful if it matches the pressure a real attacker would apply.
We measure reporting
We care more about who reports than who clicks. A team that reports fast stops a real attack early, so that is the number we help you move.
We stay blame-free on the call
The readout is about process, not people. We keep the tone calm, so leaders fix the gaps instead of punishing the staff who found them.
You own the results
Every report, log, and fix recommendation stays yours, during the engagement and after. Hand them to an auditor or insurer whenever you need to.
Overview
What does social engineering testing include?
DeveloperLook runs social engineering testing for teams that want to know how their staff and processes respond under pressure. We try approved pretexts across email, phone, and text, test real moments like help desk resets and finance changes, and measure who reports. Tests start at $900, run over 2 to 3 weeks, and you get results by process, a fix list, and a retest.
DEVELOPERLOOK
Project facts · Social Engineering Testing
- Service
- Authorized social engineering tests across email, phone, and text
- Typical timeline
- 2 to 3 weeks, depending on channels and team size
- Channels tested
- Email, phone (voice), text, and help desk processes
- Built with
- Custom pretexts, a voice line, an SMS gateway, and manual review
- Experience
- 10+ years of development experience and 1,250+ shipped projects
- Post-launch support
- 30 days of support after the report
- Communication
- Calls in US, UK, and AU business hours
- Starting price
- From $900 USD, fixed scope after a free scoping call
Reviewed 27 Oct 2026 by Saimul Islam
Good fit
Security leads with no SE program
You have run phishing emails but not tested phone or text, and you want to know how your team holds up across every channel.
Teams after a close call
Your finance team nearly paid a fake invoice, or your help desk reset the wrong account, and you want to test the process before it happens again.
Companies facing an audit
Your auditor or insurer asks whether you test social engineering, and you want a real test and report, not a checkbox.
Firms with sensitive data
You handle money, health records, or client files, and you want proof that a stranger cannot talk their way past your staff.
Leaders worried about pressure
Your team is busy and helpful, and you suspect that helpfulness is exactly what an attacker would use against them.
Not a fit
Ongoing phishing only
You want regular email phishing campaigns and tracking, not a scoped test. Our Phishing Simulation page runs that program for you.
Just training
You mainly need to train staff rather than test them. Our Security Awareness Training page builds the lessons and tracks completion.
On-site or physical
You want someone to try tailgating into an office or dropping USB sticks. We run remote tests only, so a physical red team is a better fit.
Budget under $900
Your budget is under $900, or a single phishing email round is all you need. A phishing campaign is a cheaper first step.
Not sure we're the right fit?
Book a free call or message us. We'll tell you honestly whether we're the right team.
Pricing
Transparent Starting Prices for Social Engineering Testing
These are starting points in USD. Your final price depends on how many channels, teams, and pretexts are in scope, and you get a fixed proposal after a free scoping call.
For Agencies
White-Label Social Engineering Testing for Agencies and MSPs
You own the client relationship. We supply the people testing under your brand: approved pretexts across channels, blame-free scoring, and a report your account team can present. Your MSP can offer this without building a team of pretext writers and callers in house.
How the partnership works
White label: your client only ever sees your brand
Your clientSees only your brand
You, the agencyOwn the relationship
DeveloperLookBehind your brand
Share the client
You give us the client, the channels, and the rules of engagement.
- Client needs
- You share the details
- Details received
We test and score
We run the approved pretexts and score results by team and process.
- Scope and plan
- Proposal to resell
- Your quoteYOUR LOGO
You present results
You deliver the blame-free report and fix list under your own brand.
- Done by our team
- Your brand on it
- Handed to your clientDone
- Your client
- You, the agency
- DeveloperLook
Share the client
You give us the client, the channels, and the rules of engagement.
- Client needs
- You share the details
- Details received
We test and score
We run the approved pretexts and score results by team and process.
- Scope and plan
- Proposal to resell
- Your quoteYOUR LOGO
You present results
You deliver the blame-free report and fix list under your own brand.
- Done by our team
- Your brand on it
- Handed to your clientDone
Partner with DeveloperLookDelivered under your brand
The Right Technology for Your Project
Technology Stack
We build and send tests with tools your staff would recognize, and report in formats your leaders and team leads can act on.
- Phone (voice)
- SMS
- QR codes
- GoPhish
Twilio- Canva
Python
- Microsoft 365
- Google Workspace
- Microsoft Teams
Slack
- Microsoft Word
Google Sheets
Loom- Microsoft Outlook
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Related Services
Services buyers often add alongside a people test: the security hub, an ongoing phishing program, staff training, and network or web app testing.
Phishing Simulation Services
DeveloperLook runs phishing simulation services for HR and IT teams. We send authorized simulated phishing tests built from the scams your staff really receive, check that reporting works, and share results by department, not a list of names.
Security Awareness Training for Employees
DeveloperLook runs security awareness training for employees as a managed monthly program. We set up the platform, send a 10-minute lesson each month, train new hires in their first week, and keep the completion records auditors and insurers ask for.
Network Penetration Testing Services
DeveloperLook provides network penetration testing services for offices, data centers, and cloud networks. We test every exposed service from outside, then from an assumed breach inside, and prove how far an attacker could reach.This page
Social Engineering Testing
Pairs with the 6 services around it
Penetration Testing as a Service
DeveloperLook runs penetration testing as a service for product teams on a monthly rhythm. Each cycle is scoped from what you shipped, tested by hand, and filed as tickets in your own tools, with a quarterly report for customers and auditors.
Cybersecurity Services
DeveloperLook provides cybersecurity services for businesses without a security team. We assess identity, email, devices, cloud, and web apps, fix the gaps you approve, and recheck every fix, so you get a cybersecurity service provider that does the work.
Red Team Assessment Services
DeveloperLook provides red team assessment services that test your defenses against a real objective. We attack across digital, social, and network paths under written rules, and measure whether your team detects and responds, not just whether a flaw exists.FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers on cost, timing, how the tests work, and how we keep them blame-free.
Saimul IslamFounder & CEO, DeveloperLookStill have questions?
Send a message or book a call with the team.
A test starts at $900 for a single email pretext to your sample group, with a blame-free readout. A multi-channel test across email, phone, and text, with help desk and finance checks, runs $2,200. A targeted program with executive impersonation and a retest starts at $4,400. You get a fixed quote after a free scoping call.
Most tests run over 2 to 3 weeks, including building and approving the pretexts, sending them in a staggered way, and scoring the results. A single-channel baseline can be faster, and a targeted program with several teams takes longer. The optional retest happens later, usually within 30 days of your fixes.
It is an authorized attempt to trick your staff into an unsafe action, such as a password reset or a payment change. The goal is to find where your people and processes are weak. Also called social engineering penetration testing, it tests the human side that attackers rely on most.
Yes, for most teams. Technical testing finds flaws in systems, while social engineering security testing finds flaws in how people respond. Attackers use both, so a full picture needs both. Many teams run a social engineering pentest once a year alongside their network and web app tests, then focus training where the results show gaps.
Attackers research a target from public sources, then craft a believable request over email, phone, or text. A common method is pretexting: posing as a boss, a supplier, or IT, and adding urgency so the target acts before verifying. Our social engineering pentesting copies these methods under authorization, so you see them safely.
Pretexting is the most common method: the attacker invents a believable reason to make a request, like a locked-out executive or an urgent invoice. Phishing, vishing (voice), and smishing (text) are the channels that carry it. Our penetration testing social engineering work tests all of these, so you learn which pretexts your team falls for.
The primary goal is access, won by convincing a person rather than breaking software. That access can be a password, a payment, a code, or a way into a system. A social engineering penetration test measures how close an attacker could get through your staff. It ties each success to a process fix, so the same trick fails next time.
No, which is what makes it dangerous. Most of it needs little technical skill: a convincing email, a confident phone call, or a fake login page. That is why social engineering as a service and training both matter. We test the human process instead of trusting your technical controls to catch everything.
People, in nearly every case. The device or account is the prize, but the path runs through a person who is helpful, busy, or under pressure. Our social engineering consulting and testing focus on that path: the staff and processes an attacker talks to, and the checks that would have stopped them.
Every test runs under your written authorization with pretexts you approve first. We report results by team and by process, not by naming individuals, so your staff stay willing to report real attacks. The readout is calm and focused on fixes. You keep the full report and logs for auditors or insurers.
Saimul IslamFounder & CEO, DeveloperLookStill have questions?
Send a message or book a call with the team.
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