Recommandé
Recommandé
Contenu connexe
En vedette
Dernier
Dernier (20)
Internet News Hass Associates Warning Article Code 85258083266-HA: Don't Be Fooled By Phishers, Fraudsters, and Scammers
- 1. Internet News Hass Associates Warning Article Code 85258083266-HA: Don't Be Fooled By Phishers, Fraudsters, and Scammershttp://www.huffingtonpost.ca/romeo-vitelli/how-fraudsters- scam-people-psychology_b_3299701.html#slide=754167
- 3. "Every year, Americans lose about 40 billion dollars in telemarketing fraud and they lose another 100 billion dollars a year in fraud in general." In his talk at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry convention held in Nashville, Tennessee last October, Anthony Pratkanis had no problem getting his audience's attention. Pratkanis, a professor of psychology at the University of California in Santa Cruz, is a well-known expert on economic fraud crimes, marketing behaviour, and subliminal persuasion. Along
- 4. The consequences of these schemes can be devastating. In a recent court decision, a British judge sentenced three members of a phishing gang to heavy prison time after a British woman lost her entire life savings (US$1.6-million) through a phishing scam. The woman's bank account was siphoned off using an elaborate system of "mules" to withdraw the money without the bank noticing. The gang members then spent the money in an elaborate shopping spree that left little for police to recover. Though the judge ordered the money to be repaid, there
- 5. The con artists can interact with their intended target in any number of ways, whether through spam email, telemarketing, investment seminars, or television commercials. Some of the scams that Pratkanis mentioned in his talk include: charity frauds, investment scams (such as gas and oil development schemes), lottery frauds, etc. One thing victims share is that they are often too afraid to come forward for fear of being seen as "too gullible." However, Pratkanis and his colleagues' research found that there were no other real pattern to the targets.
- 6. Among the things that can make older people more vulnerable is loss of a spouse. Often after a death, potential "saviours" come forward offering solutions that can lead to grieving seniors taking unsafe risks. Part of the danger again comes from what Pratkanis calls the "Disneyland influence," with scam artists using tactics familiar to social psychologists to gain a potential victim's trust. Some of the most common strategies used by scam artists are:
- 7. • Social proof - if everyone agrees, it must be a good deal • Door in the face - asking a potential victim for a large commitment which, when rejected, is followed by a request for a smaller commitment more likely to be accepted • Authority - the person or company pitching to you is someone to be trusted • Scarcity - if you don't take this deal now, you'll lose out and never get another chance
- 8. Sweepstakes prizes are one example of a phantom fixation suggesting that purchasing magazines, etc. can make you eligible for winning a fabulous prize that never materializes. Making one purchase often leads to requests for more money to "increase the chances of winning" the big prize. The prospect of winning millions can be overwhelming for people with modest nest eggs. Many older adults also feel they have few years remaining and can see the big prize as their "last chance" at becoming wealthy.
- 9. Then there is authority. Scam artists usually present themselves as being, or representing, high-status figures or celebrities who command instant respect. One convicted con-man in an educational video described how he successfully called potential victims posing as bank presidents, branch managers, or FBI agents. Authority also plays a role in mail and internet scams with "official" stamps of government or corporate agencies to command respect. Use of celebrities is another example of authority to help promote scams.
- 10. Other familiar scam tactics include: • Reciprocity - providing a free gift to the potential victims which then makes them feel obligated to buy something • Similarity - the scam artist will pretend to share your values and experiences. People are more likely to be taken by someone with whom they can identify • Consistency - trapping the intended victims with their own words. If the proposed victims report a specific need, such as a good investment, the scam artist will promptly play on that by insisting that the
- 11. No scam artist will rely on only one tactic and the intended victim will usually be subjected to a barrage of different tactics to wear down resistance. During any direct contact, whether in person or on the phone, a good scam artist will essentially interview intended victims to learn their weak spots. The first sale is usually just a "foot in the door" which makes the victim more likely to make further purchases. And not just from one scam artist, either. Since scam artists often share customer lists, accepting one scam can lead to being subjected to numerous other scam artists since you have been identified as a "live one."
- 12. Using "mooch lists" that police agencies have seized from known scam artists, names and telephone numbers of potential victims of fraud are collected. Volunteers from the National Telemarketing Victim Call Center (NTVCC) call these victims and warn them that they are potential targets for fraud. In operation since 2006, NTVCC maintains a "Reverse Boiler Room" for contacting potential victims. Fraud Fighters warn these potential victims of high-pressure telephone tactics and also provide referrals to local agencies.
- 13. Drawing on social psychological research into scam techniques, the Outsmarting Investment Fraud campaign combines moderated presentations, educational videos, and group exercises to increase consumer awareness. The campaign is designed to teach consumers to ask the right questions and to check the credentials of brokers selling the investments. Educational videos include interviews with victims, scam artists, and securities regulators as well as showing the right and wrong way to respond
- 14. While information seminars and online resources can be effective in teaching potential victims to be more cautious, curbing a multi-billion dollar industry will take time and effort. As new cases of people being cheated out of their life savings come to light, staying vigilant and asking more questions about those "too good to be true" deals is more critical than ever. Related Video: