"Is It a Scam?" Flowchart
Are you on the phone with someone suspicious right now? Answer the questions below to instantly figure out if they are a scammer.
"Is It a Scam?" Flowchart
How did this person or message contact you?
The Psychology of a Scam
Almost all modern scams rely on Social Engineering rather than technical hacking. Scammers are trained psychologists who use two primary emotions to turn off your critical thinking:
1. Panic / Urgency
"Your bank account is frozen!" or "Your grandson is in jail!" If you feel a sudden spike in adrenaline and feel like you have to act right this second, it is almost certainly a scam.
2. Greed / Excitement
"You won a free iPhone!" or "This crypto coin is about to double in value!" If something seems too good to be true, it is.