The Seduction of the Scam
When the adage “Always see the good in people” fails us
A curious fact about human beings: We really hate it when someone pulls something over us.
From an uncle’s “got your nose” jokes when we were kids, to a bank’s hidden fees, to phishing scams, to an overseas prince’s promise of a big payout, few of us like to talk or think about the times when we found ourselves the victim of a scam.
But we’ve all fallen for them, on some scale or another.
It’s not just older people. Nor does it only happen to those who are vulnerable or lonely. Getting pulled into a hoax can happen to thoughtful, careful, cautious, and confident people, too. If it didn’t, why would the scam business be booming?
Because of the prevalence of scams, we must apply extra caution when receiving a message. Is it a legitimate wrong number? Or just the beginning stages of a much larger financial pyramid scheme? Is that a genuine offer? A legitimate charge? Or a gimmick?
We have to use a certain amount of energy at all times to be on our guard. Stay cautious. Always look for the fine print, the catch, the gotcha. And who could blame us?
I’m not writing this to dig into the motivations of the scammer. I have some guesses, like any of us, as to why they do what they do. I’m not writing…
