What is a scammer, and why are they considered a threat in online interactions?

A scammer is defined as an individual who employs social engineering techniques, such as deception and manipulation, to exploit victims, primarily to steal money that is difficult to recover [1, 2]. Jason Andress, a security professional, describes them as the 'lowest of the low among attackers' [1]. An example is 'Piyush,' who illegally generated thousands daily by creating fake 'tech problems' for victims and taking their wealth [3]. Scammers often target wealthy individuals, those less familiar with technology, and older people, convincing them to pay significant amounts or directly stealing from their bank accounts and credit cards [2].

What motivates individuals to engage in scamming activities, particularly those operating online?

The primary motivation for most scammers is financial gain [4]. As highlighted by 'Piyush,' an Indian call center scammer interviewed by the BBC, he turned to scamming due to difficulties finding employment after college [5]. He described it as 'easy money' due because of the minimal effort involved and the substantial, untraceable, and tax-free incentives, allowing individuals to earn millions [6]. This high earning potential makes scamming a lucrative 'career,' leading more fraudsters to leverage technology to create various forms of fraud, including romance scams [4].

What are romance scams, and why are they particularly infamous online, especially for those seeking romantic connections?

Romance scams are a type of fraud where scammers exploit a victim's romantic feelings to steal money [7]. They are considered among the most infamous fraudulent activities online because the scammer typically pretends to be a potential romantic partner, showering the victim with fake love and affection to gain their trust [7, 8]. These scams revolve around building a false sense of intimacy and then making requests for money under the guise of this fabricated relationship [7, 9].

Why are people, especially men aged 30-70 looking for marriage with foreign women, become susceptible to romance scams?

Individuals seeking genuine connections, like your audience, become vulnerable when they feel attracted to someone who appears to reciprocate their feelings, leading them to open up and ultimately trust the scammer [9]. Romance scammers exploit this vulnerability by intensely 'love bombing' and showering victims with attention, ensuring their financial requests are granted [9]. They also manipulate a person's empathy by fabricating dramatic stories and employing guilt-tripping tactics to deflect suspicion from their true intentions [9].

How can I identify a scammer online, especially when interacting with someone I've met through dating apps or matchmaking services?

Identifying scammers online can be challenging due to the anonymity the internet provides [10]. However, there are several key warning signs to watch out for: constant requests for money, excessive 'love-bombing' early in the relationship, dramatic and often unbelievable life stories, and a consistent reluctance to meet in person [10]. If any of these red flags are present, it is crucial to proceed with caution, diligently verify details, and ask probing questions to expose potential fraud [10]. If your doubts persist and trust cannot be established, it is safest to cease all contact, even if you feel a romantic connection, to avoid becoming a victim [11].

What are some common types of romance scams that I should be aware of when engaging in online dating?

Common types of romance scams include: Catfishing, which involves the use of fake profile photos and identities to attract targets; Military Romance Scams, where scammers claim to be part of the military and request funds due to supposed hardships or emergencies in battle; Inheritance Scams, where victims are promised a larger sum of money if they first provide funds to process an inheritance; Medical Emergency Scams, which are requests for money for fake medical situations or emergencies; and Travel Scams, where scammers ask for money to travel and meet their victims in person, but never show up [12].

What Is a Scammer and Why Do They Do What They Do?

What is a scammer? Well, they’re definitely someone you don’t want to meet on the internet.

“Piyush” is one of the richest men in India, but he doesn’t need to work hard to achieve that. Using only his phone, he earns thousands of dollars daily helping people with their tech problems.

But the truth is, these “tech problems” don’t actually exist, and the wealth he earns is not actually his. In reality, "Piyush" is what you would call a “scammer”.

There are plenty of people just like him around the world, but they are rarely seen in public or allowed to identify themselves. With such a controversial lifestyle, why do they continue with these types of dealings?

To understand these people and their motivations, you must first ask: What is a scammer?

Definition of a Scammer

Jason Andress, a seasoned security professional, calls scammers the “lowest of the low among attackers.” Similar to con artists, they use social engineering techniques like deception and manipulation to exploit their victims.

In his 2011 book Cyber Warfare, Andress explains how scammers steal money from victims and transfer it to an account where it can’t be easily recovered. They look for wealthy targets, particularly non-tech-savvy individuals and older people. A lack of familiarity with navigating the internet tends to make someone more susceptible to a variety of scams.

The typical internet scammer convinces their victims to pay an exorbitant sum for their "problem" to be fixed. Other times, they will access personal computers and steal money directly from their victims’ bank accounts and credit cards.

From the outside, it's clear to see that scamming is a criminal offense, but why do scammers do it?

Well, who better to ask than “Piyush” himself?

Why People Scam

Piyush was one of two Indian call center scammers interviewed by the BBC in 2020, when he explained how and why he engages in this fraudulent activity.

In the interview, he said that his struggles with finding a job after college forced him to work in India’s call center industry.

If you ask anyone today what country has the most scammers, India will likely come up because of the controversial “tech support scam” that Piyush’s company did. It involved fake pop-up ads and emails claiming urgent issues with a victim’s computer or online accounts. When the victims responded, they were then connected to scam operators disguised as tech support.

This is when scammers would siphon the victim’s money by logging into their accounts or blackmailing them into paying hush money. A single victim can send hundreds of dollars in order to “fix” a problem that wasn’t even there.

Piyush called it “easy money” because of how little he had to do and how many incentives he received. Scam money is untraceable and tax-free, so a single call center agent can easily earn millions.

When asked about feeling any remorse for the act, Piyush said, “I did it because I needed the money and that’s it.”

Most scammers are driven by financial motivations. The amount of money they earn for every scam is so high that they can easily afford luxury cars or expensive clothing. Because it’s such a lucrative “career”, more and more scammers are taking advantage of the advent of technology to create more forms of fraud, including the infamous romance scam.

The word “scam” formed using scrabble tiles

Learning the definition of a scammer also includes familiarizing yourself with common scam types.

Romance Scams

What does scammer mean in terms of dating apps and matchmaking services?

Well, these types of fraudsters take advantage of a victim’s romantic feelings to steal money.

Romance scams are some of the most infamous fraudulent activities on the internet. They usually revolve around the scammer acting like a potential partner for the victim, showering them with fake love and affection to gain their trust.

Below are the most common types of romance scams:

Catfishing - use of fake profile photos to attract targets
Military Romance Scams - claims of being part of the military and asking for funds because of hardships in battle
Inheritance Scams - promises of securing an even bigger sum if only they get funds to process an inheritance
Medical Emergency Scams - requests for money to deal with fake medical situations
Travel Scams - requests for money to travel and meet their victims in person

Why People Get Tricked Into Romance Scams

It’s normal to yearn for genuine, meaningful connections.

When you’re attracted to someone who seems to feel the same way, you become vulnerable. You open up to them, and they ultimately gain your trust. When someone else shares a story of struggle, you can empathize and feel the desire to comfort and help.

Romance scammers use this vulnerability to abuse and take advantage of people. They act as potential partners, love bombing and showering their victims with attention, so all their requests will be granted

Scammers also abuse a person’s empathy by creating false stories and guilt-tripping to divert suspicion.

How to Identify a Scammer Online

The anonymity that the internet provides has made scammers harder to identify. However, there are some signs you can watch out for:

Constant requests for money
Love-bombing
Dramatic life stories
Reluctance to meet

If any of these are present in your relationship with someone you met online, it's best to proceed with caution. Do whatever you can to verify that they are a real person with genuine intentions

Clarify as many details as it takes to satisfy your doubts. Look up as many questions to ask a romance scammer to expose them if they’re really operating a fraud on you.

If you decide that you just can’t trust this person anymore, do the necessary things to avoid any further contact with them. Even if you think you have genuine romantic feelings for them, it is not safe to deal with that person.

Answering the question “What is a scammer?” isn’t meant to encourage people to sympathize with these individuals. Instead, it's a way to educate you on how best you can avoid being a victim of these operators.

Let this be a warning sign that scammers are everywhere, and you must be cautious of who you talk to and where you go on the internet, especially when you’re looking for love.

References:

“Confessions of a call-centre scammer.” 2020. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-51753362.

Sadaf, Simra. n.d. “The Top 10 Scamming Countries In The World.” The Merge. Accessed June 17, 2025. https://www.themerge.in/top-fraudster-scamming-countries-in-the-world/.