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Diff: Scamming Techniques

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'''Scamming techniques''' are methods used by criminals to deceive people into sending money, revealing information, granting access, or taking actions that benefit the criminal. The details vary between fraud types, but many scams rely on the same core techniques: impersonation, pressure, emotional manipulation, false authority, and controlled information.
	'''Scamming techniques''' are methods used by criminals to deceive people into sending money, revealing information, granting access, or taking actions that benefit the criminal. The details vary between fraud types, but many scams rely on the same core techniques: impersonation, pressure, emotional manipulation, false authority and controlled information.

Understanding the method is often more useful than memorising individual scam names. A scam can change its story while keeping the same pressure pattern.	Understanding the method is often more useful than memorising individual scam names. A scam can change its story while keeping the same pressure pattern.

== Impersonation ==	== Impersonation ==
Criminals often pretend to be a trusted person or institution. They may impersonate banks, police, government departments, delivery firms, employers, technology companies, dating partners, investment firms, family members, or support staff.
	Criminals often pretend to be a trusted person or institution. They may impersonate banks, police, government departments, delivery firms, employers, technology companies, dating partners, investment firms, family members or support staff.

Impersonation can be strengthened with copied logos, spoofed phone numbers, fake email addresses, cloned websites, stolen photos, and information gathered from previous data breaches or social media.
	Impersonation can be strengthened with copied logos, spoofed phone numbers, fake email addresses, cloned websites, stolen photos and information gathered from previous data breaches or social media.

== Urgency and Pressure ==	== Urgency and Pressure ==
Many scams try to stop the victim thinking calmly. The message may claim that:	Many scams try to stop the victim thinking calmly. The message may claim that:

* Money will be lost if action is not taken immediately.
* An account will be closed.
* Police or officials are involved.
* A limited investment opportunity is about to expire.
* A delivery, prize, or loan will be cancelled.
* A loved one is in danger.
	* money will be lost if action is not taken immediately;
	* an account will be closed;
	* police or officials are involved;
	* a limited investment opportunity is about to expire;
	* a delivery, prize or loan will be cancelled;
	* a loved one is in danger.

Real organisations normally allow time to check, especially for financial decisions.	Real organisations normally allow time to check, especially for financial decisions.

== Secrecy ==	== Secrecy ==
Fraudsters often ask victims not to tell anyone. In romance fraud, secrecy may be framed as privacy or love. In investment fraud, it may be described as exclusivity. In impersonation fraud, the victim may be told that talking to others will compromise an investigation.	Fraudsters often ask victims not to tell anyone. In romance fraud, secrecy may be framed as privacy or love. In investment fraud, it may be described as exclusivity. In impersonation fraud, the victim may be told that talking to others will compromise an investigation.

Secrecy protects the scammer from outside challenge.	Secrecy protects the scammer from outside challenge.

== Authority and Technical Language ==	== Authority and Technical Language ==
Scammers use official-sounding language, legal threats, case numbers, fake staff IDs, technical terms, and staged verification checks. The aim is to make the victim feel that the situation is legitimate and that questioning it would be unreasonable.
	Scammers use official-sounding language, legal threats, case numbers, fake staff IDs, technical terms and staged verification checks. The aim is to make the victim feel that the situation is legitimate and that questioning it would be unreasonable.

Technical support scams use this heavily. So do banking scams, tax scams, and fake law-enforcement calls.
	Technical support scams use this heavily. So do banking scams, tax scams and fake law-enforcement calls.

== Emotional Hooks ==	== Emotional Hooks ==
Some scams use fear. Others use greed, affection, duty, urgency, embarrassment, or hope. Romance scams build trust and attachment. Recovery scams exploit the hope of getting money back. Investment scams exploit excitement and fear of missing out.
	Some scams use fear. Others use greed, affection, duty, urgency, embarrassment or hope. Romance scams build trust and attachment. Recovery scams exploit the hope of getting money back. Investment scams exploit excitement and fear of missing out.

The emotional hook is not a sign of weakness. It is a deliberate part of the method.	The emotional hook is not a sign of weakness. It is a deliberate part of the method.

== Payment Choices ==	== Payment Choices ==
Fraudsters often push payment methods that are fast, hard to reverse, or difficult to trace. These include bank transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency, money transfer services, and vouchers.
	Fraudsters often push payment methods that are fast, hard to reverse, or difficult to trace. These include bank transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency, money transfer services and vouchers.

Requests for gift cards or cryptoassets are especially strong warning signs when dealing with strangers, supposed officials, or online relationships.
	Requests for gift cards or cryptoassets are especially strong warning signs when dealing with strangers, supposed officials or online relationships.

== Access Requests ==	== Access Requests ==
Some scams ask for access rather than immediate payment. The criminal may ask the victim to install remote access software, share a one-time passcode, scan a QR code, log in through a link, open online banking while on a call, or move money to a so-called safe account.	Some scams ask for access rather than immediate payment. The criminal may ask the victim to install remote access software, share a one-time passcode, scan a QR code, log in through a link, open online banking while on a call, or move money to a so-called safe account.

Once access is granted, the criminal may steal funds, collect documents, install malware, or use the victim's accounts to attack others.	Once access is granted, the criminal may steal funds, collect documents, install malware, or use the victim's accounts to attack others.

== Practical Examples ==	== Practical Examples ==
=== Bank Safe Account Scam ===	=== Bank Safe Account Scam ===
A caller says there is fraud on the victim's account and tells them to move money to a safe account. Banks do not create safe accounts for customers to transfer money into during a call.	A caller says there is fraud on the victim's account and tells them to move money to a safe account. Banks do not create safe accounts for customers to transfer money into during a call.

=== Fake Courier Message ===	=== Fake Courier Message ===
A text says a parcel needs a small fee. The link collects card details and may later be used for further fraud.	A text says a parcel needs a small fee. The link collects card details and may later be used for further fraud.

=== Romance and Investment Combination ===	=== Romance and Investment Combination ===
A person builds an online relationship, then introduces a trading platform. The platform shows fake profits and later demands fees to withdraw.	A person builds an online relationship, then introduces a trading platform. The platform shows fake profits and later demands fees to withdraw.

== See Also ==	== See Also ==
* [[Phishing]]	* [[Phishing]]
* [[Romance Scams]]
* [[Investment Scams]]
* [[Technical Support Scam]]
* [[Advance Fee Fraud]]
	* [[Romance_Scams]]
	* [[Investment_Scams]]
	* [[Technical_Support_Scam]]
	* [[Advance_Fee_Fraud]]

== References ==	== References ==
* [https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/protect-yourself-scams Financial Conduct Authority: Protect yourself from scams]	* [https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/protect-yourself-scams Financial Conduct Authority: Protect yourself from scams]
* [https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams National Cyber Security Centre: Phishing scams]	* [https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams National Cyber Security Centre: Phishing scams]
* [https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/ Report Fraud]	* [https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/ Report Fraud]
* [https://www.askthe.police.uk/faq/?id=ea404fa3-420e-f011-998a-6045bdcf9c56 Ask the Police: scam advice]
* [https://www.gov.uk/report-suspicious-emails-websites-phishing GOV.UK: Avoid and report internet scams and phishing]	* [https://www.gov.uk/report-suspicious-emails-websites-phishing GOV.UK: Avoid and report internet scams and phishing]

[[Category:Fraud]]	[[Category:Fraud]]
[[Category:Cyber security]]	[[Category:Cyber security]]