The word “scam” is not new to many people, mostly because a lot of individuals have fallen victim to it or know a family member or friend who has been a victim.
Scams can occur practically in many aspects of our lives. It can be employment, college, romance, finances, investment, services and products, or any other field.
The painful experience of falling into the trap of a con artist is one that a lot of victims have not been able to recover from years after the incident. Another painful part of this is that scams have continued to increase with the help of technology.
Here, we will share the main reasons why people fall for cons and what can be done about it.
Reasons Why People Fall for Scams
People are prone to fraud for so many reasons. It is important to know what these reasons are so you can avoid falling victim.
1. Loneliness
Many people are lonely. That’s why they usually become victims of romance scams. Tricksters understand the vulnerability of lonely people and look out for them.
When they spot a lonely person, they work toward filling that gap. Within the shortest possible time, most individuals will come to trust con artists, and the rest is history.
2. Scarcity
When things are in short supply, the demand for them increases. Fraudsters know that and use this principle to their advantage. They may promise people the supply of scarce resources. Because of the desire to get them, the victim will be willing to pay or give anything just to have what the crook has promised.
3. The Internet
Since the advent of the Internet, scamming has spread like wildfire. As a matter of fact, most of the deceptions that occur today happen on the internet or originate from there.
The online space has become a haven for many tricksters. They can easily mask themselves as good guys while being wolves in sheep’s clothing.
4. Greed
Irrespective of age, race, or social status, if you are greedy, the chances that you will be a victim of fraud are higher. In fact, fraudsters mostly target people who they perceive to be greedy.
5. Trusting impersonators
Impersonation is one type of con that anyone can fall victim to. Imposters have no limitation on the people they will impersonate just to get their victims. They can pretend to be any of your family members, friends, colleagues, government officials, etc.
Imposters have mastered this craft to such an extent that, most times, it takes a long time for a victim to figure everything out. Because the impersonators claim to be people we know and trust, we follow them mindlessly, and this makes us very vulnerable.
6. Desperation
Desperate times call for desperate measures. When people are desperate, they can do just anything to save the situation.
Con artists know what people usually want to have. It could be a job or student loan. Therefore, they position themselves in places where individuals like this would like to be, let’s say, a job-hunting website. If someone desperately needs a job, they can give in to the fraudster’s request.
7. Ignorance
The less you know how the scammers operate, the more likely you will fall prey to their whims. Most fraudsters do their assignments well. They take their time to study the dynamics of each victim and are patient to see through their plans. So, the best way to defeat the enemy is to know them. 
How You Can Avoid Falling for Scams
If you’re worried about being a victim of any of the many frauds out there, then it’s best to learn how to protect yourself. Here are some of the things you can do:
1. Don’t be quick to take action
Whenever you are dealing with people you don’t know, mostly online, take it slow. You will need time to think, ask questions, investigate, and weigh your options. Doing this may reveal one or two things that are off.
2. Talk to people you trust
When you have done the above, talk to your friends, family members, or other people you trust. The chances that they know more than you may be high. They might be able to see things more clearly than you. Plus, if someone has already encountered a scam, they will let you know about all the warning signs.
3. Don’t send money
Most of the time, the overall goal of con artists is to get you to send money to them. Your money is your bargaining chip; don’t let it go unless you are absolutely sure that you are not dealing with a trickster.
4. Be contented
It is human nature to want more. Hence, it’s important to be okay with what you have. Or better still, learn to control your desire for what you need. Eliminate greed, and fraud will be reduced to the barest minimum.
5. Keep yourself informed
Since you are reading this, it means you are on the right track, but it doesn’t just end here. Different cons are coming up daily, and if you don’t keep yourself informed, you may be caught unaware.
6. Verify people
Whenever you are dealing with someone who seems suspicious, it is better to learn more about this person. If you don’t, you might become a victim, and the consequences in the form of identity theft or data breaches will haunt you for a long time.
To know who stands behind a suspicious message or call, use Nuwber, a people search engine that provides access to information about individuals. This information includes contact details, addresses, social media profiles, professional details, and much more.
Final thoughts
Scams are everywhere these days. Even daily activities, like shopping online or transferring money to a person we think we know, can turn into a disaster.
Being proactive will help you ensure you stay out of harm’s way despite the increasing cases of people getting defrauded online and offline. Don’t forget to educate yourself and your loved ones to drastically reduce the incidences of fraud.
