🔹 Slide 1: Cover
Title:
The Psychology of a Scam Victim
Subtitle:
Smart. Tech-savvy. Still got scammed.
🧠 Here’s why.
🔹 Slide 2: Real Story – “I Build Websites. But I Lost $7,000.”
Kenny, 29, is a freelance developer. He thought he knew the internet inside out.
One day, he received a message:
“You’ve been shortlisted for a tech gig. We loved your portfolio.”
A professional woman from “LinkedIn” sent him a contract and asked for an upfront fee to “secure the project.”
He paid. Then the contact vanished.
“I wasn’t stupid,” Kenny said.
“But I was flattered. I was hopeful. I wanted it to be real.”
🔹 Slide 3: Why People Fall for Scams (Even the Smart Ones)
Scammers don’t hack your devices—they hack your mind.
They use emotional triggers to override your logic.
✅ Confidence doesn’t protect you
✅ Education doesn’t guarantee safety
✅ The brain reacts the same way under emotional pressure
Here’s how the trap is set.
🔹 Slide 4: Emotion > Logic in Scam Scenarios
Imagine this:
- You see your bank’s logo
- There’s a red warning: “Suspicious activity”
- A countdown starts: “Your funds will be frozen in 10 minutes”
😨 You don’t think, you react.
Scammers manipulate your fight-or-flight response.
They want you emotional—not rational.
🔹 Slide 5: 5 Psychological Techniques Scammers Use
1. Urgency
“Act now!” “Last chance!” “You’ll be arrested if you don’t pay!”
🧠 Why it works: Fear shuts down your brain’s logical thinking.
2. Authority
“I’m from the police/bank/MOM. You’re under investigation.”
🧠 Why it works: We’re conditioned to comply with uniforms and official titles.
3. Scarcity
“Only 5 slots left!” “Offer ends in 15 minutes!”
🧠 Why it works: Creates FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and rushes decisions.
4. Reciprocity
“I helped you get this job. Just pay me a small fee.”
🧠 Why it works: People feel obliged to give something back.
5. Emotional Connection
“I love you. But I need help. My mom’s in the hospital.”
🧠 Why it works: Emotions override logic—especially in romance scams.
🔹 Slide 6: The Scam “Flow” – How It Happens Step by Step
1. Hook – Attractive offer or threatening message
2. Emotional Trigger – Panic, love, greed, or fear
3. Isolation – “Don’t tell anyone.” “Keep this private.”
4. Action – Click, pay, share info
5. Damage – Money or data stolen
🚨 Scammers follow a predictable playbook. Once you know it, you can spot it early.
🔹 Slide 7: Real Examples of Emotion-Based Traps
Fear-Based:
“Your CPF account is suspended. Login now to restore access.”
Greed-Based:
“Invest $200 now, get $1,000 in 3 days. Guaranteed!”
Love-Based:
“I can’t live without you. But I need money for a ticket.”
Guilt-Based:
“You don’t trust me? After everything I’ve done for you?”
Urgency-Based:
“You have 5 minutes to act or lose your chance forever.”
🔹 Slide 8: What Happens in the Brain During a Scam?
🧠 Under threat or reward:
- Your amygdala (fear center) activates
- Your prefrontal cortex (logic center) shuts down
- You go into “reaction mode” instead of “analysis mode”
💥 That’s why even smart people click on things they normally wouldn’t.
🔹 Slide 9: Scam Victim Myths – Busted
🚫 “Only old people get scammed.”
→ Wrong. Gen Z and millennials are top targets for job & romance scams.
🚫 “I’m too smart for this.”
→ No one is immune to emotional manipulation.
🚫 “I would know if it were fake.”
→ Scammers study human behavior more than you think.
✅ Scam protection is about awareness—not IQ.
🔹 Slide 10: How to Outsmart Emotional Traps
1. Pause before action.
o Never respond instantly. Take a breath.
2. Don’t respond when emotional.
o If you feel fear, excitement, or guilt—step back.
3. Talk to someone.
o Scammers hate third-party input.
4. Verify using official sources.
o Go to the company site directly. Don’t click suspicious links.
5. Repeat this mantra:
“If it’s urgent and unexpected, it’s probably a scam.”
🔹 Slide 11: Being Smart Means Being Sceptical
🎯 “But what if it’s real?”
→ If it’s truly real, it’ll still be real after you verify it.
🎯 “But they said not to tell anyone!”
→ That’s the first sign you should tell someone.
🎯 “But I don’t want to miss out.”
→ Better to miss a fake opportunity than lose real money.
🔹 Slide 12: What You Can Do Today
✅ Share this post with someone who thinks they “won’t get scammed”
✅ Save these tips as a screenshot
✅ Talk to your family about emotional scam traps—especially elderly parents and teens
🧠 Knowledge is your strongest antivirus.
🔹 Slide 13: Coming Tomorrow…
📊 Week 1, Day 5:
Top 10 Most Common Scams in Asia Right Now
Real cases, real tactics, and how to stay ahead.
