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Feb 25, 2024 · Scammers rely on certain psychological tactics that mean anyone is vulnerable, experts say. Here's how to protect yourself.
- Random phone calls. Scammers start with small requests to establish a sense of commitment. After agreeing to these minor requests, we are more likely to comply with larger demands, driven by a desire to act consistently.
- Creating a sense of urgency. Scammers fabricate scenarios that require immediate action, like claiming a bank account is at risk of closure or an offer is about to expire.
- Building rapport with casual talk. Through extended conversation, scammers build a psychological commitment to their scheme. No one gets very far by just demanding your password, but it’s natural to be friendly with people who are friendly towards us.
- Help me to help you. In this case, the scammer creates a situation where they help you to solve a real or imaginary problem (that they actually created).
- You Scratch My Back…
- Like Lemmings Off A Cliff
- Little Steps
- Fomo
- They Seemed So Nice
Beware the principle of reciprocity. If someone does something for us, we feel more obliged to do something for them. Scammers use this type of “enforced indebtedness” to elicit an unwise action from their target. For example, someone offering you an exclusive opportunity to invest your money can be seen to be doing you a favour. That in turn makes...
Research shows that if a person believes other people are doing something, then they feel it must be okay for them to do it too. This is especially true when individuals find themselves in a pressured and ambiguous situation – such as a sales pitch. If a person on the other end of the phone tells us that 75% of people like us have signed up to this...
People like to think of themselves as being consistent and committed individuals. If we say we are going to do something, then generally we will, as failure to do so may dent our sometimes fragile self-esteem. Fraudsters take advantage of this by getting us to commit to little steps that then escalate in nature. For example, by simply getting peopl...
People are generally worried about missing out on an opportunity, perhaps for “the next big thing”. And if such an “offer” is for a limited time only, then the principle of scarcitysuggests that people are more likely to be drawn to it. When our freedom to be able to do something is threatened, we tend to react quickly to ensure that we don’t miss ...
The principle of similaritysuggests that we tend to like people who seem to be the same as us, and, in turn, we are much more likely to agree to a request from someone we like. Similarity can be as broad as an interest in financial investments or as fleeting as sharing some personal characteristics. Scammers take advantage of this and try to find o...
- Paul Seager
Sep 17, 2024 · Scammers use sophisticated psychological tactics to bypass our rational defenses and cloud judgment. They know exactly which emotional buttons to push and when. This is why it's important to understand the most common types of scams and how these scams operate.
- Noma Nazish
Sep 17, 2024 · At a Glance. Scams are a major problem. Phone scams, email phishing, bogus job opportunities, and emergency scams are some of the most common, and the use of AI technology is a growing concern. Research on who is susceptible is mixed.
Oct 3, 2014 · Scammers play clever psychological tricks to fool their marks, says Colin Barras, and that means anyone can be vulnerable unless they know what to look for.
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Will You Ever Fall for a scam?
Apr 14, 2021 · Key points. Scams are a silent and costly threat to both the old and the young, and can be psychologically damaging. Many people won’t reveal how they have been taken advantage of, due to shame...
