Understanding Psychological Tactics Scammers Use

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I’ve written before about various scams and ways to keep yourself safe. From the old-fashioned lottery-winning email to more recent voice-cloning scams, the methods scammers employ are changing. Yet the majority of scammers exploit various types of psychological manipulation to deceive unsuspecting people.

What is psychological manipulation?

Psychological manipulation involves using everyday cues that we all react to in ways to make you do something you otherwise wouldn’t do. For instance, a recent fictional television episode had this storyline: a jewelry store owner yelled for a police officer when someone tried to purchase an item using counterfeit money. An officer appeared, showed his badge, and arrested the counterfeiter. However, the store owner didn’t know the cop was in cahoots with the supposed customer. When the officer said he needed the jewelry the “customer” attempted to buy as evidence, the jewelry owner handed it over without question, trusting that the person who had saved him from counterfeit money was in fact a police officer.

Sometimes quick, often more long-term

In the instance above the police officer merely needed to show his badge to gain trust. It was an instantly recognizable symbol that immediately tamped down any trace of suspicion. For many scams, more time is needed for the scammer to build trust with their victim.

Impersonation and social engineering

The TV episode from above is a perfect example of this. The scammer pretended to be someone else, in this case a police officer. By assuming a trusted identity, he was able to get past objections about handing over the jewelry that the store owner would normally have had. Social engineering can play a significant role in scams, as con artists exploit human tendencies to trust and comply.

Fear and urgency

Scammers often create a sense of fear and urgency to pressure their victims into hasty decisions. They may fabricate scenarios that threaten consequences if immediate action is not taken. If you receive a call where a family member is in trouble – maybe in the hospital and they need money immediately or in jail and they need bail – concern and urgency can cloud your thinking.

Greed and desperation

Scammers often use greed or desperation to manipulate their victims. They may exploit our desire for financial gain by offering get-rich-quick schemes or provide “opportunities” to get out of debt for pennies on the dollar. Scams claiming lottery winners only need to pay taxes to receive millions have been around for ages and play on these feelings.

Creating false rapport and connection

Scammers are masters at creating a false sense of rapport and connection with their victims. They know that building trust is the first step towards gaining control. Whether it’s through sympathetic stories, shared interests, or flattery, scammers make you feel like they understand you and have your best interests at heart. They know that a well-crafted sob story or a tantalizing offer can easily override our rational thinking.

Psychological conditioning

Scammers often employ psychological conditioning techniques to manipulate their victims. They might shower you with affection and attention one day, only to withdraw it the next, creating a cycle of reward and punishment. This conditioning aims to keep you off balance and reliant on their approval. By controlling your emotions and altering your perception of reality, scammers can exert influence over your actions.

Just need a hook

Whether through your social media presence, or through careful questioning disguised as sincere interest, scammers look for the hook they can use to separate you from your money. Don’t lose sight of that – money is what this is all about. They can use the name of your grandchild they found on your Facebook account to claim the child is in jail. They can find out after talking to you several times in a dating app that you just lost your significant other. Even people who normally wouldn’t share this information may be caught up in the moment.

In the ether

Ever been taken in by a salesperson’s spiel? You are in the market for an item, the salesperson knows just what you need, takes time to help you find it, maybe mentions that it’s on sale for a limited time, and you feel swept along – almost powerless – to an inevitable conclusion? That’s being swept up in the ether, that feeling of listening and believing someone so much that you aren’t paying attention to that little voice in your head saying wait a minute, something’s off. They want you nodding along with their claims that they have the best item for the best price, and that you were lucky you came in.

The scammer uses an enhanced version of this, and obviously offers no product for the cash they are anticipating. They will want you to believe they are the one who will bring you love or provide a way out for your grandchild, and that you were lucky they came along. They play on your emotions, fears, and desires, all while masquerading as trustworthy entities.

How to keep your head

Scammers are really good at what they do. They have taken advantage of doctors and professors along with the common person, and know the buttons to push that make you part with your money. But there are some steps you can take to keep from being manipulated:

Becoming familiar with scams is one way of fighting against these criminals. Recognizing some of the psychological tactics employed by scammers is another tool you can use if you’re caught up in the ether.

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