Have you ever thought that a simple act of helping could lead you into an elaborate scam? You would not have thought that a pure childlike heart could also become a prop for scammers, when a voice begging for help sounds, are you ready to lend a hand, but stop and think, why is she looking for you?
The scam begins: innocent pleas
Imagine you're wandering around a crowded street, enjoying your free time. Suddenly, a small figure appears in front of you, with a pair of big watery eyes, he looks helpless and urgent, and asks you for help: "Brother (or sister), can you open this bottle of soda for me? "This scene seems so ordinary that you reach out almost without thinking, but it is at this moment that you have fallen into the elaborate scam laid by the scammers.
Start laying the net: parents who fall from the sky
The moment your kind hand touches the cap, a dramatic transformation happens. Before you can feel the joy of helping, two figures will suddenly appear, claiming to be the child's parents, angrily accusing you of saying that because you gave the child a bottle of drink, their baby is now unconscious. At this point, you may be well-intentioned and overwhelmed.
Obfuscation: The "testimony" of bystanders
In this case, you may think that this is just a misunderstanding, but unexpectedly, several bystanders also joined the play. They nodded and said, "This is this man, I saw it!" Under the fanning of these accomplices, you are like a turtle in an urn, unable to extricate yourself.
Start the extortion: Coordinate reparations
Next, this well-planned drama enters the climax. These crooks, posing as parents, will find a corner where no one is and start their blackmail script. They can be eloquent, crying, fussing, and even threatening and intimidating, with one purpose - to get you to pay for it. "Just a few hundred dollars, don't make a fuss. "They might say that. If you don't follow, their tactics may be even more intense.
At this time, you may feel angry and anxious, after all, this trap is too sudden and bizarre. Your kindness suddenly becomes evidence of your guilt, and your helping hand becomes a tool for their extortion.
Scam analysis
Their scams are usually successful for several reasons:
- Take advantage of empathy: People often have a natural sense of protection and empathy for children, and scammers take advantage of this psychology to make people unconsciously let their guard down.
- Create a sense of urgency: Scammers often create an emergency, such as a child who is injured and needs to be taken to the hospital immediately, when people are more likely to make irrational judgments in the midst of tension and anxiety.
- Social trust: To a certain extent, there is a general foundation of trust in society to help each other. Scams often mimic normal social support behavior, which makes it easier to be believed.
- Stealthy operation: Scammers often operate in unobtrusive situations, such as in sparsely populated areas or with children as the front desk, so that people don't think there is a big risk.
- Mind games: Scams are often a psychological game, and scammers are well-versed in human weaknesses, such as shame in rejection, fear of conflict, etc., which are all factors in the success of scammers.
- Unrecognizable: New scams are often unrecognizable due to a lack of awareness. When a scam is not well known, its success rate is often higher.
How to prevent scams
We should remain vigilant when confronted with requests for help from strangers, especially children, and give priority to providing assistance in the public eye or directing them to the police or other official personnel for assistance. When encountering a request for money, resolutely do not pay for it, and immediately report it to the police. At the same time, always keep an eye on your surroundings and take out your phone to record possible evidence if something is wrong. In normal times, by learning and understanding new types of fraud, improve your anti-fraud awareness, so as to prevent personal losses caused by criminals.
Have you ever encountered any of those new types of scams?