Defining What Is A Scam Artist & What Necessary Acts To Take
Before you trust anyone online, it’s important to understand what is a scam artist, how they operate, and how you can stop them.
There’s no doubt that the internet has transformed how we can connect in a lot of ways, no matter how far apart we are. This allows us access to a variety of services and opportunities, from banking and transportation to travel and dating. However, just as much as these conveniences make our lives simpler, it also makes a scam artist’s life just as easy.
What Is A Scam Artist?
A scam artist, according to the Central Bank of Ireland’s definition, is what we often call a fraudster, scammer, or con artist who employs increasingly complex techniques to obtain your personal information and gain money.
What makes these people even trickier is they engage in your emotions to push you toward a quick decision, not a logical one.
One example of this is when an unknown person contacts you, claiming to be from your bank and informing you of suspicious activity on your card. In this case, they are inciting panic, which causes you to lose track to pause and share your personal information right away in hopes of resolving the issue.
In order to better safeguard you, let’s examine the telltale signs of a scam artist.
Spot A Scam Artist With These Signs
To be an informed internet consumer, you must know the danger signs to look for. Make sure you take note of the following, as some are subtler than others:
Their Friendliness
True to their name as “scam artists,” they’re people who are great at disguising themselves in order to blend in. They treat you with excessive kindness and show a personal interest in you. They call you when they say they will, offer you sweet words, and make themselves available to you despite your busy schedule.
It’s hard to determine, right? The trick here is to not immediately trust someone just because they showed you kindness. Especially if they are someone you just met.
Requests For Personal Data Of Any Kind
Con artist scams always include a request for personal information of any kind—it could be your phone number, email address, banking information, home address, etc. No matter how kind they are to you, never divulge such information right away.
We advise you to ask them questions about why they need such details. Scammers will often turn the tables then and will try to make you feel inadequate for asking too many questions, so be cautious. Never let your feelings guide your decisions.
Tight Deadlines to Pressure You
Scam artists make use of mental shortcuts to persuade their victims to share their personal data. According to psychologist Robert Cialdani’s 7 Psychological Principles of Influence, scammers can manipulate you by using any of the following "shortcuts": unity, reciprocity, authority, scarcity, liking, commitment, and social proof.
An example of the "social proof" shortcut is when a scammer presents you with what appears to be evidence of other people’s successful investments in them. In fact, these proofs are either fabricated or staged by the scammers themselves.
They will then tell you that in order for your investment to be as successful as the previous ones, you "Will have to take a risk soon because there is no way you can lose money anyway."
Being Secretive
In order to isolate their victim and exert pressure without being noticed by others, scammers use private communications, such as emails or direct messages. By concealing their activities, they reduce their risk of detection and prosecution, which raises the question: can you sue someone for scamming?
The answer is yes. Scamming is a form of fraud that can be pursued through a civil lawsuit in order to recover financial losses, or a criminal complaint in which you report the scam to law enforcement agencies. Either may result in criminal charges and penalties against the scammer.
We strongly suggest that you speak with a lawyer before pursuing legal action in order to determine the best course of action for you.
In Case You Suspect Someone Is Being Conned
To prevent con artist scams from exploiting more people, notify others as soon as you notice any red flags.
If you suspect a friend, family member, or acquaintance of being defrauded, it can be difficult to confront the sensitive subject because they may already be embarrassed or emotionally invested. Still, it’s best to address the problem right away before it’s too late.
Here’s a breakdown of how to convince someone they are being conned ethically:
Help Them With Fact-checking
First, you may ask them to present any of their conversations or transactions. This helps you to look for inconsistencies or red flags in their chats. Next, as calmly as possible, present them with examples of similar scams and how they work.
Point out the red flags you observed and encourage them to think critically with probing questions, such as "Why is a stranger asking you for money?" or “Why do they want the money from you immediately? or "Do you believe their offer is too good to be true?”
Offer Empathy And Understanding
When addressing the emotional factors involved in scamming, avoid judgment or blaming them for falling too easily. Rather, reassure them that they are not alone and that anyone can become a victim while calmly explaining that scams are inherently emotionally manipulative.
Furthermore, offer to assist them in reporting it and discussing how they might better protect themselves in the future.
Direct Them To Resources
To better safeguard them, direct them to resources that can provide the best help they need. For example, you can refer them to the Federal Trade Commission to assist them in recovering their losses.
Alternatively, you can direct them to law enforcement so they can conduct a more thorough investigation and impose the appropriate sanctions on the con artist.
By combining factual data and emotional support, you can boost your chances of convincing someone they’re being conned and preventing future harm.
By providing all of this information, we hope to have given you comprehensive information about what is a scam artist, how to spot their warning signs, and how you can prevent them from victimizing more people.
As much as we are passionate about fostering international love, we would not want scam artists to get in the way.
References:
Ardent Financial Planning. (2024). “The psychology of scams and why we fall for them.” ardentuk.com. https://ardentuk.com/news/the-psychology-of-scams-and-why-we-fall-for-them/#:~:text=Scammers%20engage%20your%20emotions%20to,%E2%80%9Ctwo%2Dsystem%20thinking%E2%80%9D.
Central Bank of Ireland. (n.d.) “Can you spot a scam artist?”. centralbank.ie. https://www.centralbank.ie/consumer-hub/explainers/how-can-i-avoid-a-financial-services-scam#:~:text=Scam%20artists%20%E2%80%93%20often%20referred%20to,Cheap%20insurance%20policies