Scammers have a broad range of tactics to get what they want

This is usually money, whether  directly or indirectly, through personal information. But it’s not just hacking and social engineering methods they rely on. It’s underlying factors like fear and digital literacy. We delve into how and why swindlers can use these to manipulate you and others.

The Fear Factor

Fear is one of the strongest human emotions. It’s a key feature of our survival instinct that’s fundamental to who we are as people. Scammers intentionally play on this to override rational thinking and responses. This often pushes victims to act without proper forethought, placing them and their money or details in harm’s way. You can see the evidence in many scamming techniques.

Urgent threats: Many common scams create a sense of urgency that pressures you into acting. A message, email, or call warning of bank account closures or overdue payments puts you on the spot. This can evoke a panic response, cloud your judgement, and make you do things you normally wouldn’t. Scammers use the threat of further repercussions to make action seem like the best (or only) way forward.

Fear of missing out: A different approach relies on a gentler form of fear – the fear of missing out. Promotions for investment opportunities and time-limited deals often seem too good to be true. And they usually are. The more a scammer can get you interested in their offering, the more vulnerable you become.

Read more: Deepfake AI and why you need a safe word

The Digital Divide

Some criminals rely on people’s lack of digital ability to get what they want. Older generations are typically less familiar with the warning signs. They’re more likely to believe that a phishing email or hoax call is legitimate. The absence of an internet connection sometimes makes people vulnerable. But it can also be poor digital literacy while connected.

Scammers tend to exploit the digital divide by:

Posing as an authority or legitimate company: Verifying the identity of someone contacting you is tricky enough for most. For someone with limited knowledge of the online world, the risks are even greater. Impersonations often target people without the power to verify. This makes phishing emails, fake social media profiles, and ‘robocalls’ more likely to succeed.

Using lack of knowledge: Complexity is another way scammers pull wool over the eyes. It’s easier to deceive people unfamiliar with certain technologies and processes. Unsolicited tech support scams and fake software updates are common examples. Scammers may then sell your data on the dark web, which even the most tech-savvy people could be unaware of.

Fear and the Digital Divide combined

These two factors often work hand in hand. Many scamming techniques exploit vulnerabilities linked to both. For example, an inability to verify someone’s identity combined with an urgent threat increases the likelihood of action.

It’s always best to stay calm, seek support from someone else, and avoid making rash decisions.