Why Do People Fall for Phone Scams?

Most of us have heard about cases of fraud involving mobile phones. This type of scam has become quite popular among criminals. According to statistics, around a thousand people fall victim to phone scammers every year. What’s most interesting is that information about these scams is widely available—people are warned through various media outlets to be careful and not fall for scammers’ tricks. There are even lists of tips and recommendations. Yet, people still end up giving their money to dishonest individuals, and some even fall for these schemes more than once. So why does this happen? How do scammers—who are often skilled in psychology and other fields—manage to deceive and profit from the carelessness or inattentiveness of others?

To answer these questions, let’s look at the main types of phone scams and group them based on the motives that make people fall for them.

1. Scams Targeting Core Values

The first group includes scams that exploit our most important values—things we care about so much that we’re willing to give up money without asking too many questions (and that’s the key point!). These values include the health and safety of our loved ones, especially children, family ties, a sense of duty and decency, a desire for justice, and the wish to live up to others’ trust.

Common schemes in this group include:

• “Your relative/child is in trouble” calls
• Requests to return money that was “accidentally” transferred to your phone (where you send money to another number, but the original sender also files a claim to get their money back, so you lose double)
• Calls from distant “relatives” who say they’re coming to visit but get into trouble on the way (often involving fake police or traffic officers demanding money)
• Requests to top up someone’s phone balance because they’re in “serious trouble”

In these situations, scammers know you’re unlikely to ask too many questions, especially if you’re worried about someone. Fear reduces critical thinking, and social discomfort may prevent you from questioning a “relative” about something you feel you should already know. Scammers use vague language, set expectations for how you should behave, and, most importantly, create a sense of urgency. When time is short, we stop thinking rationally, rush, and often miss obvious red flags.

2. Scams Exploiting Greed and Curiosity

The second group relies on our darker desires—greed, the love of “free cheese,” foolishness, or the temptation to try something forbidden. Examples include:

• “You’ve won a car!” (just pay a small fee or tax to claim it)
• Prize draws that require you to send money or activate a payment card
• Paid services for access to someone’s SMS or calls, which end up costing much more than advertised

Here, our hope for a lucky break can drown out any warnings. We may ignore advice from friends or family and rush to claim a sudden, pleasant “prize.” Scammers use urgency (often giving you just 24 hours), a sense of logical progression (each step seems safe and reasonable), and the illusion that the prize is already yours—just a few formalities left. Many victims don’t report these scams to the police because the loss seems minor (for example, losing 500 rubles instead of the expected 10–30 rubles), so scammers go unpunished and keep operating. Also, people are often embarrassed to admit their “spy” interests if the scam involved snooping on someone else’s phone.

3. Scams Exploiting the Need for Security

The third group targets our basic need for safety. These scams often involve messages about your bank card being blocked, or instructions to enter a special code or call a number and provide your card details and PIN. These schemes prey on our fear of losing money, lack of knowledge, trust in authority, and sometimes our reluctance to investigate the situation ourselves. Anxiety about our finances makes us more susceptible to manipulation.

What Psychological Triggers Do Scammers Use?

• Urgency: Creating a sense of limited time to act
• Contrast Principle: For example, “The car is worth $10,000, but you only need to pay $500 to claim it”
• Consistency Principle: A series of logical steps, each one bringing you closer to handing over your money voluntarily
• Authority and References: Using the name of a well-known bank or organization to seem credible
• Lack of Knowledge: Exploiting gaps in people’s understanding, especially among the elderly regarding banking services

Scammers often have some knowledge of psychology, possibly even neuro-linguistic programming. They know how to calibrate, mirror, and lead conversations to manipulate you. They may also have access to databases, allowing them to target their “audience” more precisely. Even without such data, statistics work in their favor—a certain percentage of people will always respond and hand over their money.

Understanding these tactics makes us more protected, as we become aware of how scammers might try to manipulate us and what tools they use. We can also spot where unpleasant surprises might be lurking.

So, dear friends, stay alert, double-check information using different sources, pay attention to your emotional state, and don’t hesitate to ask loved ones for help or advice if needed.

You’ve got this!

Author: Lyudmila Martyanova
International Academy for Lie Research