Don’t let emotion make you a victim
RESEARCH HAS REVEALED THE MINDSETS MOST LIKELY TO LEAVE US VULNERABLE TO ONLINE SCAMS. VICKY SHAW LEARNS MORE
WHEN do you think you might be at your most vulnerable to a scam? Well, new research suggests it’s when we’re emotional.
Looking at some common online scams, NatWest and RBS have worked with behavioural psychologist, Jo Hemmings, to investigate the techniques scammers use to exploit victims.
They found that they often seek to exploit our emotions by tapping into our personal hopes, desires and fears – and our natural willingness to trust others and respect those who appear to be in authority. Here are the emotions scammers prey on in common digital cons.
GOODS NOT RECEIVED SCAM: Targeted emotion – trust
SCAMMERS get you to pay for goods or services from a website that is mimicking a vendor website but you never receive your products.
They play on our willingness to trust a hard-to-resist deal. We like to think we’re savvy shoppers and by appealing to the bargain-hunter in us, they leave us little time to consider the situation and convince us to part with our money.
In this instance, scammers also play on the implicit trust that purchasing online from a seemingly authentic website seems to provide.
How to spot this scam: If something looks too good to be true, it probably is. Make sure you are buying from a genuine website – check it starts with ‘https’ and look at independent review sites. Also, be careful how you pay.
Protections vary depending on different payment methods, for example paying by credit card could cover you for payments between £100 and £30,000 under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act if something goes wrong.
ADVANCE PAYMENTS SCAM: Targeted emotion – fear
WHEN scammers ask for advance payments for goods and services such as renting a flat or a holiday villa. They capitalise on our fear that we will lose out if we don’t act fast.
How to spot this scam: Pause for thought before parting with your money and don’t just assume someone you’ve never dealt with before who contacts you out of the blue is genuine.
Payment scams can happen when a request for payment is received from someone purporting to be someone senior in a company or a client – so ask yourself whether this person is really who they say they are, and consider checking with the company they say they’re from.
ROMANCE SCAMS: Targeted emotion – desire
YOU think you’ve met the love of your life online – then the scammers use flattery and the manipulation of our innermost desires to gradually gain our trust.
By preying on a desire to be loved, our hopes and even our emotional vulnerability, they get the information needed to scam their victims.
How to spot this scam: A warning sign could be if someone you’ve met on a dating website attempts to move the conversation away from the website. They may also ask many questions about you, but offer little information about themselves. They may be reluctant to Skype or meet in person and might have a ‘sob story’ to tell, which results in them asking you for money.
While you may feel like you’re being swept up in a big romance, take some time to stop and think, and perhaps consider discussing any warning signs with people who you know well and trust, such as close friends or relatives.
Scammers also often use someone else’s image online, so it may be worth doing an internet search to see if the photo actually belongs to someone else – open the picture in Google Chrome, right click and select ‘search Google for this image’.
HOLIDAY SCAMS: Targeted emotion – excitement
HOLIDAYS are one of our biggest annual purchases and often one of the most exciting milestones of the year. Scammers prey on our excitement at the prospect of booking a dream holiday and our eagerness not to miss out on the best possible deal. These feelings can limit our ability to make a rational and considered decision.
How to spot this scam: Watch out if you are asked to make your payment for your break outside an official website – and be particularly cautious if you are asked to transfer money directly into someone’s bank account, as this could make it particularly hard to claw your cash back.
Check reviews across different websites, not just one, and be wary of anyone trying to pressure you into signing up to a ‘limited time’ offer.
For further advice on avoiding scams, see the Take Five to Stop Fraud website at takefive-stopfraud.org.uk