You consider yourself a savvy person. You would never fall for the old “Nigerian prince” email. You know better than to give your bank details to a stranger. Yet, modern scammers have perfected tricks that are surprisingly simple and exploit basic human psychology. Their schemes often seem so obvious in hindsight that victims are left feeling embarrassed.
The truth is anyone can be a target. Scammers prey on fear, urgency, and our natural desire to be helpful. Understanding their dumbed-down, yet effective, tactics is the best way to protect yourself. Here are eight scammer tricks that seem foolish but continue to work.
1. The “Wrong Number” Text Message
You get a text from an unknown number saying something like, “Hey, is this Amanda? It’s John, we met at the conference last week.” You politely reply, “Sorry, wrong number.” The scammer then replies, “Oh, so sorry to bother you! Have a great day.”
This seems harmless, but it’s a setup. They will often text back later, trying to start a friendly conversation. This is the beginning of a “pig butchering” scam, where they build trust over weeks before convincing you to invest in a fake cryptocurrency scheme.
2. The Gift Card Payment Demand
A “representative” from the IRS, your utility company, or tech support calls with an urgent problem. They say you owe money and must pay immediately to avoid arrest or having your service shut off. The catch? They demand payment in the form of gift cards from stores like Target or Google Play.
This should be a giant red flag, but people panic. Scammers use gift cards because they are untraceable and the funds are immediately accessible. Remember, no legitimate organization will ever demand payment via gift card.
3. The “You’ve Won a Prize!” Delivery Fee
You receive an email or text informing you that you’ve won a fantastic prize, like a new iPhone or a cruise. All you have to do to claim your winnings is pay a small shipping or processing fee. It might only be a few dollars.
This is purely a ploy to get your credit card information. Once they have it, they can rack up fraudulent charges. The “prize” never existed in the first place.
4. The Fake Job Interview
You’re job hunting and get an email about an amazing remote work opportunity with a well-known company. The interview process is conducted entirely over a messaging app like Telegram. They “hire” you quickly and then ask for your bank details for direct deposit.
Before you get a paycheck, they tell you that you need to buy your own computer equipment from their “approved vendor.” They send you a fake check to deposit, have you buy the equipment, and the check eventually bounces, leaving you in debt.
5. The Grandparent Scam
This trick targets the elderly. A scammer calls and says, “Hi Grandma, it’s me.” They wait for the grandparent to guess a name, like “David?” The scammer then confirms, “Yes, it’s David!”
They proceed to tell a frantic story about being in trouble—often arrested or in a hospital in another country—and needing money wired immediately. They beg the grandparent not to tell their parents. By exploiting love and fear, they convince seniors to send thousands of dollars.
6. The Utility Shut-Off Threat
You get a call from someone claiming to be from your electric or gas company. They inform you that your account is delinquent and a technician is on their way to shut off your service in the next 30 minutes unless you make an immediate payment over the phone.
The sense of urgency is designed to make you panic and bypass your logical thinking. If you get a call like this, hang up. Call the utility company directly using the number on your official bill to verify the claim.
7. The “Accidental” Venmo or Zelle Payment
You receive a notification that someone has sent you money on a payment app by mistake. Shortly after, you get a message from the “sender” pleading with you to send the money back. It seems like the honest thing to do.
However, the initial payment was made with a stolen credit card. After you send your own money back to the scammer, the original transaction will be reversed by the bank, and you will be out the full amount.
8. The Social Media “Is This You?” Message
You get a message from a friend’s hacked account on Facebook or Instagram. The message contains a link and says something alarming like, “OMG, is this you in this video?” or “I can’t believe you posted this!”
Your curiosity and concern make you click the link. It takes you to a fake login page that looks like Facebook. When you enter your password to “view the video,” you have just given the scammers access to your own account, which they will use to scam your friends.
If It Feels Wrong, It Is Wrong
The common thread in these scams is the manipulation of human emotion: fear, greed, curiosity, and kindness. Scammers don’t need complex technology when they can exploit predictable human behavior. The best defense is a healthy dose of skepticism. Pause before you act, especially when you feel pressured or emotional. A moment of hesitation is all it takes to see these dumb tricks for what they are.
Have you or someone you know ever encountered one of these scams? Share your story in the comments to help warn others.
What to Read Next…
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