Scammers rely on 3 core tactics: impersonation, urgency and emotion. Recognising how scammers use these tactics with all scam types will help you spot scams.
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Warning signs of a scam
Scammers rely on 3 core tactics to steal your money and personal information:
- impersonation: pretending to be someone you trust
- urgency: pressuring you to act quickly
- emotion: manipulating your feelings.
Understanding these tactics can help you spot scams.
The 3 core tactics scammers use
Impersonation: pretending to be someone you trust
Scammers pretend to be people or organisations you know and trust and ask you to share personal information or money.
Scammers steal identities. They make phone calls and send emails or texts claiming to be from a trusted source like your bank, the government, or the police. They use real logos, official-looking branding and threatening language.
Tactics scammers use include:
- creating fake websites that look exactly like the websites of retailers or service providers
- sending emails that look like they come from real companies
- hacking social media accounts to message your contacts claiming to be friends in need.
Urgency: creating pressure to act now
Scammers create time pressure to make you act quickly. They want to stop you checking that what they say is real. They make you think delays will result in serious consequences, or you are missing out on a once-off opportunity.
Scammers create time pressure with:
- pop-up ads claiming you have only minutes to claim a prize
- fake warnings saying your computer will be damaged unless you call the number shown immediately
- automated phone calls and messages claiming your bank account has been compromised and you need to act immediately
- fake deadlines with countdown timers
- claims of limited stock availability and fake decreasing stock numbers
- threats of account closures or service interruptions unless you act quickly.
Emotion: manipulating your feelings
Scammers manipulate your emotions by targeting your desires, fears, and compassion. When strong emotions are triggered, you are more likely to comply with their requests.
- Fear can be triggered by fake virus warnings and threats of immediate arrest or deportation.
- Scammers exploit hope and financial vulnerability with get-rich-quick schemes, lottery wins and investment opportunities promising easy money.
- They use fake charity appeals and crowdfunding for medical emergencies to take advantage of your compassion.
- They target your need for connection using fake dating site profiles and making you emotionally invested.
Common scam methods
Scammers try to manipulate you into giving your personal information.
A scammer builds a trusting relationship with the victim through regular contact.
The 2 main types of scams
Scammers use tactics of impersonation, urgency and emotional triggers across 2 main types of scams.
Mass-market scams
Mass-market scams target thousands of people at once with the same approach. The scams may be emails claiming to be from your bank, fake lottery wins, or pop-up warnings about computer viruses. Victims of these scams usually encounter immediate theft of money or personal information.
Relationship scams
Relationship scams take a different approach, building trust with one person over weeks or months. Romance scams, sophisticated investment fraud, and long-term impersonation schemes fall into this category. Scammers invest a lot of time grooming their victims, who often have more money stolen and deeper emotional damage.
Both types of scams use the same tactics. A scammer might spend months building a relationship before creating a financial crisis that only you can help them with. A mass-market scammer acts quickly to try and trigger immediate fear and action. Recognising these patterns of impersonation, urgency, and emotional triggers, is key to protecting yourself.
Common signs of a scam
Never automatically click a link or attachment you receive via email or text. Scammers try to catch you off guard and send you to scam websites designed to steal your information and money.
Always make sure that the sender is who they say they are and that you know what you are opening. It's safest to find the information yourself by browsing to the website or app rather than clicking on a link.
If a person asks you to pay with preloaded debit cards, iTunes cards, or virtual currency like Bitcoin, chances are it's a scam. Once this money is spent, you can’t get it back.
If someone asks you to set up a new bank account or PayID in order to pay them (or be paid by them), this is a clear sign you should be suspicious. It could be a scam, or money laundering. Your bank will never ask you to open new accounts to keep your money safe. Stop and check who you are dealing with.