Why Do People Fall For Scams?

why do people fall for scams

After reviewing online business opportunities for a while, it surprises me that people still fall for some of the money making scams that I review.

After all the warnings, alerts, reviews and awareness-raising campaigns, you’d have thought that most people would have learned not to trust everything they see on the internet.

We may think we are scam proof but the truth is it can happen to anyone.

Money making scams are everywhere online. The fraudsters are constantly searching for new ways to separate us from our money and the scams are often quite sophisticated.

The scammers know that we can’t rely on just our common sense to protect us. There are other factors such as our emotions that can cloud our judgment and cause us to make the wrong decision.

It’s easy to think the victims are driven by greed, are naive or desperate. However, research has shown the scam victims can come from any age group, any profession, be successful or not and have different educational backgrounds.

People want to believe easy money is possible so they finish up believing in the impossible. Once we have been scammed we shake our heads and wonder how we could have been so stupid.

 

Here Are 7 Reasons People May Fall For Online Scams

1. Negative Life Events and Loneliness

Experiencing negative events in your personal life such as loss of a job, a change in your financial status, concerns about loneliness, divorce, stress or serious illness or injury can make you more vulnerable.

These negative events may mean your social networks become weaker, you may also become more isolated from your family. Friends and family can provide a great deal of support.

A scammer may encourage you to become part of a network or team. This could sound like something to ease your loneliness.

Dating sites are often used by the fraudsters. Loneliness can make us nonrational.

You don’t need to avoid online dating sites completely, just use your common sense. If someone you’ve never met wants you to pay money for something then it’s probably a scam.

A report from AARP in 2014 said that 66% of scam victims often felt lonely.

 

2. Debt and Desperation

Being in debt or in a desperate situation will make you ready to try anything. Scam artists can often seem credible because they pose as a legitimate business.

The scammer will offer a get rich quick solution to solve the debt problems.

They may offer false testimonials, worthless guarantees or falsified documentary proof.

If you’re thinking of paying money for some kind of online work or service always do your due diligence before giving any personal details.

 

3. Pressure

A favorite trick with many online programs is to give you the impression you must act fast to secure your place.

When we’re buying goods we’re familiar with like grocery items it’s easy to decide quickly but when it’s something we don’t know, we need to take our time, check for reviews or ask friends what they think.

Don’t be pressured, they only do this so you don’t think about their offer for too long or search online for complaints.

When you buy something on Amazon, I’m sure you read what customers are saying about a particular product.

You should get into the habit of doing the same thing every time you purchase something you are not familiar with online.

You need to have the confidence to take your time and not be rushed into a decision you may regret.

 

4. Not Searching For Reviews or Information

Whenever you’re buying something you not accustomed with or using a company that’s new to you it’s a good idea to look for reviews online.

This should help you to form an opinion about the product, service or company.

However, not everyone gives honest reviews, some affiliate marketers are as unscrupulous as the programs they promote.

They are ready to say that that something is great just to make a quick buck.

So if you’ve read a few reviews and you’re still not sure if you should invest, do a search with the name of the program + complaints or scam. Check the Ripoff Report and the Better Business Bureau.

 

5. Impulsive Behaviour

Victims of online fraud tend to be more impulsive. Although their intuition may tell them something is too good to be true they’re still ready to give it a try.

They are ready to take a chance with their money on the off chance it pays off.

If you think this could be you, whenever you’re about to sign-up for something that promises money for little work, leave your computer or smartphone and try to weigh up the pros and cons before giving your credit card info.

 

6. Not Being Computer or Internet Literate

I suppose it’s not very surprising but according to the AARP survey (mentioned above), online literacy plays a part in the chances of someone falling for a scam.

The type of actions that are carried out by the most at risk are things that I’m sure many of us do quite often. For example, disclosing too much personal information (some even provide their Social Security numbers), not reading disclosure statements, signing up for a trial offer and clicking on pop-ups.

You need to keep learning and to stay up to date with what’s happening online. The scammers are always changing, you must try and keep up with what they are doing.

 

7. Not Following Our Gut Instinct

I don’t know about you, but when I’ve fallen for a scam I have done so knowing that it probably sounded too good to be true.

But even so, I continued to purchase the product or service. Why ? I really don’t know, maybe it was greed, a dream, I was emotionally vulnerable or because I didn’t want to feel I would miss out on a great opportunity.

This is where the scammers are very clever, they play with our emotions.

Follow your gut instincts, it’s your first line of defense.

 

Most People Don’t Report Scams

People who are victims of scams often don’t report it because they feel ashamed or stupid. There is no need to feel like this, the scammers are very clever and convincing and many of us have been scammed.

Reporting a scam and sharing the details will help protect others. If you’re not sure where to report the fraud or scam to which you were a victim this article will help.

 

 

How To Protect Yourself

Here are a few tips that will help you to avoid the make money online scams.

  • If a program sounds too good to be true then it usually is.
    ‌A legitimate program won’t promise quick money for little work. They should tell you will have to work hard and for a certain time. It doesn’t sound as enticing as the get rich scheme but is the reality.
  • Don’t be pressured into making a decision right away.
    A legitimate program will give you the time you need to decide.
  • Don’t sign up for a program if they don’t tell you exactly what you will be doing.
    A legitimate program you should always explain how you will make money.
  • No free trial. A good product or service won’t be afraid of offering a free trial.
    If they have confidence in their product they have nothing to lose. Beware of programs that offer a trial period for a small fee. Often your credit card will be debited as soon as the trail period is over.
  • Don’t believe every money back guarantee.
    Many times there are conditions in the small print that will make getting a refund very difficult or impossible. On other occasions, you will have to fight to get your refund.
  • The owner should be clearly identified.
    This is very common with the online scams. No one wants to own up to being responsible for a scam. Either they don’t disclose the who the real owner is or they make up a fake name and include stock photos.

 

Final Thoughts

The most important point is not to believe you can make money online quickly and easily. To create an income online takes a lot of time, determination, patience, hard work and know how.

If you come across one of these get rich quick schemes and you’re not sure if it is genuine or not, check the tips above.

Where possible favor products or services that let you try for free. If you have found a product that you think is genuine check for reviews. Carry out an extensive search in the search engines for anything that may point out that the program is not legitimate.

If you’re looking for a proven and legitimate method of making money online, I recommend affiliate marketing. You should understand before starting, to be successful will take time and hard work.

To get started it’s best to follow an online course that will teach you how to set up a website, write content, carry out keyword research and also provide the help and support you need.

 

Do you have any questions? Have you fallen for any scams? Do you need feedback on a make money online program? Let me know in the comments area below.

 avoid the online scams

8 Comments

  1. Henry May 15, 2017
    • Peter May 16, 2017
  2. Simon Crowe in Asia May 15, 2017
    • Peter May 16, 2017
  3. Amit Misal May 15, 2017
    • Peter May 16, 2017
  4. Sharon Whyte May 15, 2017
    • Peter May 15, 2017

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