The Psychology Behind the Scam

Scams are often so convincing that it’s difficult for even experienced individuals to detect them, but why is this the case? It all boils down to human psychology. Modern security training can help you identify these telltale signs, but it doesn’t really explain the why of things. That’s what we’re out to explore today.

Technology Has Changed the Same Old Scams

You’ve probably heard of the “Nigerian Prince” email scam, where a royal is facing danger and needs a quick escape from his home country, and only you can offer the financial assistance needed—and if you provide it, you’ll be rewarded with riches beyond your wildest dreams.

This is the poster child of cybercrime scams, and for good reason. There are several building blocks of a successful scam on full display here—building blocks that have generated millions of dollars in revenue for scammers. In reality, the Nigerian Prince scam is just one variation of an advance-fee scam from the 1800s, where a scammer claims a wealthy prisoner needs money to bribe the guards holding them hostage, and in exchange provides a reward for assistance.

The same scam that worked back then still works now, just in a different medium, whether it’s a written letter or an email, or a bribe or a plea for help.

The Common Tricks Used By Scammers

There are plenty of tools modern scams use to take advantage of their victims. While most of these scams operate via email, the medium is less important than the actual tactic. Keep a lookout for these warning signs:

A Sense of Urgency

Sometimes a sense of fear can push you to react irrationally out of panic. It doesn’t take much to create this feeling; it could be as simple as a ticking clock or the consequences of being discovered by someone who wants to do you harm. If you think about primal humans, for example, there was a significant fear of being harmed by external threats, like competing tribes or wild animals, hence why fear is such a powerful weapon against us psychologically.

Fake Authority

Humanity (generally) operates via a hierarchical understanding of society, meaning that some individuals are perceived to have greater authority than others. This gives their words and actions more weight, even if they don’t really make sense. Scammers can take advantage of this “fake” authority by posing as executives within your business or as important figures in your business agreements, making you more likely to comply with their request.

Taking Advantage of Your Helpfulness

Humanity progresses by working together, and this comes with the added baggage of people liking to be helpful. When someone is suffering, we generally want to do what we can to alleviate that suffering. That said, when someone makes a suspicious request, it doesn’t always register that we shouldn’t necessarily act. This results in us being too helpful and too willing to share information.

Capturing Curiosity

Ah, the fear of missing out. You might be tempted to download a file even when you know you shouldn’t, just because you can’t resist not knowing what’s on the other side. Be careful and always err on the side of caution, even if it feels somewhat benign.

Identify Scams Before You Become a Victim

Scammers are crafty with the way they go about their activities, so you really can’t take too many risks. That’s where Horne & Benik comes in. We can train your team and help you build policies that transform your average employee into a scammer’s worst nightmare. Learn more by calling us at (603) 499-4400 today.