Easy Prey10 Huhti 2024

Scams Exploiting Emotions with Alan Castel

We can easily stereotype those we believe are susceptible to a scam. But the scammers are keeping up with current events and are prepared to take advantage of our basic human emotions. The impact of these frauds is underreported due to the shame and embarrassment.

Today's guest is Alan Castel. Alan is a Psychology professor at The University of California Los Angeles. He studies learning, memory, fraud, and aging. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Time Magazine. He recently published a book entitled Better With Age: The Psychology of Successful Aging.

Show Notes:

[1:08] - Alan shares his background and what he focuses on as a psychologist.
[3:33] - We are all susceptible to scams, regardless of the stereotypes.
[5:50] - Scams focus on our human nature of trying to make sense of the world and our emotional brain. Scams prey on our basic emotions.
[7:34] - Scams are tailor made to expose our vulnerabilities.
[8:50] - Some scams are situational and can be completely believable.
[10:05] - There are people who are much more vulnerable to scams, but it's not based on stereotypes.
[12:48] - Education and awareness can come from podcasts like this, but it also needs to come from people who have experienced a scam.
[15:33] - Although scams don't only target older adults, the elderly tend to be more susceptible to scams that target their need to help others.
[18:19] - There are some phrases that aren't always recognized as false because they sound scientific.
[20:48] - There are websites and organizations that support scam victims, and it is highly recommended that you report anything that happens.
[22:32] - Alan admits that he has fallen victim to a scam on a website, entering his credit card information to purchase something.
[26:37] - Alan describes a reinforcement schedule, which is a psychological tactic to build relationships.
[28:10] - Scams are clever and Alan sees their potential to use psychological principles to part people from their money.
[32:30] - How does memory play a role in scam vulnerability?
[35:05] - Alan describes the "foot in the door" technique.
[37:02] - It comes down to curiosity as human nature.

Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review.

Links and Resources:

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(342)

Hidden Phone Tracking

Your phone gives off a surprising amount of information just by being connected to a cellular network. Things like your location, who you communicate with, and your daily patterns can all become part ...

23 Syys 45min

Ransomware Evolution

Ransomware has changed dramatically over the years. What started as criminals locking up individual computers and demanding relatively small payments has grown into a much larger operation involving s...

16 Syys 40min

The Counterfeit Economy

A counterfeit handbag may leave someone disappointed. A counterfeit medication, airbag, or child's car seat can do far more damage. Fake products now reach into nearly every part of daily life, and ma...

9 Syys 43min

The Internet is Playing You

A convincing lie no longer needs to look suspicious. It can appear in a familiar social media feed, come from someone who seems real, or arrive as a video that looks almost impossible to fake. By the ...

2 Syys 44min

The Psychology of Yes

It is easy to say you would never fall for a scam when you are looking at the situation from the outside. In the moment, though, things can feel much less obvious. A request may sound reasonable, the ...

26 Elo 49min

Drink Spiking

A drink can be out of your sight for only a moment, but that may be all it takes for someone to tamper with it. Spiking can happen in bars, restaurants, festivals, and even among people who already kn...

19 Elo 35min

Love, Lies and Locked Up

What sounds like the plot of a crime thriller was Sharon Armstrong's real life. An online romance drew her into an elaborate web of lies involving overseas contracts, invented emergencies, and several...

12 Elo 52min

The Recruitment Trap

Everybody is searching for ways to increase income. Unfortunately, MLMs often look like an easy way to start a business without taking on the cost of a traditional company. The pitch sounds simple. Bu...

5 Elo 51min