Tricks That Con Artists Use To Gain Your Trust

They use their impeccable brains

Image Source/ TylaThe main thing you need to know is that, ultimately, a con artist depends on their brain. While an armed robber might scope out the business a short while beforehand, they ultimately rely on a weapon of choice. Whereas, a con artist will strategically calculate their robbery before it happens, and is usually fool proof.

They let you win

Image Source/ iStockObviously, they wouldn't want you walking away from a deal thinking that it was a scam. So instead, the con artist will give you a taste of reward before conning you. Whether it be money, affection, social acceptance, the con artist will be keen to give you a taste of the win first.

Targeting the vulnerable

Image Source/ The MirrorThis isn't as simple as the elderly or disabled, we have all been vulnerable at points in our lives, and it's usually that vulnerability that has led us to be a victim of crime. This is because the con artist will take advantage of your emotions, not your intelligence.

They use time to their advantage

Image Source/ ShutterstockCon artists are keen to offer time-sensitive deals, ones that will make you act on your impulses, a "now or never" kind of deal. It acts on the same way that retailers depend on tempting impulse products by the kiosk. Be sure to allow yourself some time to investigate.

Their deals are exclusive

Image Source/ Automotive NewsSimilarly to above, con artists will lead you to believe that you can't get this deal anywhere else, it is exclusive to them and them only. You should really consider doing your research in this instance and if the deal is too good to be true, it probably is.

They will get you to talk

Image Source/ Mind HacksCon artists will get victims to talk, so they can work out what it is you want or need. A retired scammer confessed that:

“Victims don’t look for why the offer is a scam; they look for why the offer will make them money. They want you to make them feel good so they can pull the trigger.”

They will start small

Image Source/ TED IdeasCon artists won't want to scare you off straight away, and will test the waters before upping the benefits. It preys on the mindset that if you have trusted them before, you surely trust them still. It is reminiscent of the case where a woman was scammed by someone from Tinder, who asked for cash transfers in order to clear customs.

They will use your name

Image Source/ To MarketCon artists put a lot of work into figuring out their victims, and this includes learning your name. While they may have found your name online somewhere, they'll use it to their advantage. For example, they might say "Hi, [name], don't you remember me?".

They will dress the part

Image Source/ RankerA budding con artist will make sure that they look the part, otherwise it makes their case very unbelievable. A retired con man explained that:

“Swindling is really acting, and you play a character who will help you appear legitimate, confident, and successful."

They will mimic you

Image Source/ The Emotion MachineStudies have proven that mirroring someone else's body language increases empathy within a conversation. While salespeople can use the tactic to close a sale, con artists will use it to build a subconscious bond with their victims. It can incite familiarity and belonging.

They will appeal to your needs and desires

Image Source/ Inc. MagazineDon't be fooled, scammers will already know so much about you that they know what you seek, your needs, your desires, and they'll prey on these to their advantage. It's a classic way of con artists to trick you entice you into their unrealistic offer.

They rely on your embarrassment

Image Source/ iStockPeople's pride matters more than anything, so admitting that you have been a victim of a scam can be quite embarrassing. For example, con man Victor Lustig convinced his victim that he was selling the Eiffel Tower, conning him out of $70,000, which the victim never reported.

They will highlight their "flaws"

Image Source/ New FrameIn order for a con artist to be trusted, they will reveal their own anxieties and mistakes to trick their victim. It increases the chance of the victim identifying with the con artist, which therefore increases the trust in the bond between the two.

Con artists will use recognisable names

Image Source/ The New York TimesIf you're buying a new product and have seen familiar celebrities promoting it on TV or online, you might think that it's legit. Yet, you would be wrong. When TV's Adam West promoted an Internet-kiosk scam, lots of people fell for it, and there's always a clause that the celebrity is not responsible.

The copycat con

Image Source/ IT PROFraudsters tend to gain your trust by lying about what organisation they work for. For example, they might say that you owe a reputable delivery firm a fee, owe tax to your homeland tax office, or are in arrears with your internet provider. Be vigilant when receiving suspect emails, texts and letters.

Opting for cash transfers rather than credit or debit card

Image Source/ Finance MonthlyBuyers should be wary if a seller requests bank transfer payment rather than a debit or credit card or the safe payment method offered by the online platform. Credit and debit cards give you more protection than cash transfers so you should always try to opt for this method.

They owe you money

Image Source/ RecruiterFree money? Who in their right mind is gonna say no to that? Well, it's a fantastic way of them getting your personal banking details. Usually, they will ask for you to make payment first, release cash or move money. You should be aware of these tactics if you're going to avoid being conned.

Pretending to be your bank

Image Source/ CSO OnlineFraudsters pretending to be from your bank provider will use scare tactics to manipulate you into sending money to team. Often, they will pretend to be from the fraud team and ask you to send your money to a different account in order to keep it safe.

They will cold call you

Image Source/ ForbesTypically, con artists would cold contact potential victims or entice them with phoney investments that are advertised on social media and search engines. Search engines, social media, and bogus advertising have all played a significant role in the rise in investment frauds throughout the pandemic.

They will doctor legal documents or files

Image Source/ Croner-iCon artists will spend time forging false documents like bank statements, advertisements or warnings. If ever you have received anything that looks suspicious, question its validity. Does all the text line up? Are there obvious, major spelling mistakes? Is the layout wonky?

Pretending to be you

Image Source/ DepositphotosYour information can be used by fraudsters to open bank accounts, apply for loans, and apply for credit cards, all in your name. Some may attempt to access welfare benefits in your name and obtain official documents like passports or driving licences.

Rooting through your bins

Image Source/ Wakefield ExpressCon artists are known to search through your trash for bank statements that include the information they require, and others have been known to steal personal information from your wallet or handbag. Criminals may also create a profile of your identity using information about you found online and on social media.

CEO fraud

Image Source/ RetarusIngenious cybercriminals will pretend to be a senior executive in order to persuade a worker to transfer them money. The scam, which primarily targets businesses, is the least typical bank transfer fraud. The victim is attempting to pay a legitimate manager when the fraudster steps in and requests that the money be paid to a different account.

Spoofing technology

Image Source/ IONOSSpoofing is the term for when criminals copy a trusted organization's phone number or sender ID so that it appears on your phone. Con artists have been known to use spoofing technologies to make their emails appear authentic by posing as members of the finance teams of companies.

Fraudulent invoices

Image Source/ StampliTo send out false bills, scammers will hijack the email accounts of contractors, architects, and lawyers. They will ask their victims to send any money owed to a new account on the grounds that their account information has changed. Unlucky families have lost their whole deposits using this strategy when shifting money between banks to purchase real estate.

Holiday scams

Image Source/ InsiderScammers will use fraudulent websites that offer cheap travel bargains to prey on people who are desperate for a vacation. The websites frequently copy well-known, trustworthy names, however the address of the website may alter significantly. Given that airfare is mostly determined by airlines, absurdly low pricing for flights could be a red flag.

Lottery scams

Image Source/ WeLoveLottoScammers get in touch with their victims and tell them they've won a reward, but they have to pay a charge in order to get it. However, after the victim sends the money, they hear nothing. The victim can also be fraudulently informed that they have won a foreign lottery or that gold or jewellery is being held at customs and a fee must first be paid.

Looking for a job? Be careful

Image Source/ The Denver PostHeartless criminals frequently take advantage of job seekers by posing as recruiters but demanding a fee up ahead to do background checks or handle other administrative tasks. Anyone who is approached in this manner is encouraged to verify the legitimacy of a firm.

Watch out for fake profiles on Tinder

Image Source/ ForbesFraudsters look for victims on dating apps who they think are weak. They do this to create false profiles before claiming to have fallen in love with their victim, the cunning scammers grab images from the Internet. Once they've convinced you, they fabricate a sob story about how they are in need of money.

The phrase to watch out for

Image Source/ Reader's DigestCon artists can mirror each other, they learn from the best after all. If someone ever says "you and I are going to make a lot of money together" make sure to immediately ring the alarm bells in your head. More often than not, it's already too late.

They Take Advantage Of Your Emotions, Not Logic

Image Source / The News InternationalWhen you're feeling particularly emotional, you're not going to be thinking very clearly. When emotions take over, you're more likely to make a mistake or have impulses take over - and con artists will take advantage of that. Fraud victims can be played on for their emotional needs, and financial situations can definitely make people emotional.

They're Professionals At Listening

Image Source / Odgers InterimCon artists need to be very, very good listeners. Not only is this to let you talk so they can learn more about you and how your brain works, but also to build that level of trust. A person is going to trust a con man more if they speak less and listen more.

They'll Place A Time Limit On Great Deals

Image Source / QuestionmarkIn the same way you might be more tempted to buy something online when it's a limited time sale and the clock is counting down, a con artist will put a time limit on a deal too good to be true. This can put more pressure on you to be impulsive to make sure that you don't miss out on what seems to be a great deal.

They Might Use AI Or Chatbots To Get Recordings

Image Source / ForbesThe beginning of some scams can be operated by having an AI or chatbot call you. A common scam at the moment is to have an AI ask 'Can you hear me?' when you immediately answer the call, in the hope of recording your voice saying 'Yes.' This recording of your voice may then be used for larger scams, like when you call customer services numbers and respond 'yes' or 'no' to get certain information.

They May Wear Recognisable Uniforms That Can Be Trusted

Image Source / WikipediaDressing the part isn't just about wearing a nice business suit. Con artists may go the whole hog and wear full uniforms from companies or careers that many people trust. An example of this is when con artist Frank Abagnale bought a pilot's uniform to wear so people would more easily trust him passing through.

They Don't Target 'Stupid' People

Image Source / Leaders in LawWhen you think of people being targeted by scams, you may think that con artists want people who lack the intelligence to spot a scam, and that only 'stupid' people would ever fall for it. But it's not the case. Scammers target successful people with money to spare, because that's the whole point. This includes lawyers, doctors and 'smart' people - the very people you'd expect never to fall for scams, but who definitely do!

They May Have Extensive Experience 'Hustling'

Image Source / First City Recovery CenterCon artists are good at talking, because it's what they do. But con artists may not have always been so, and may have been recruited because of their ability to hustle, talk their way out of situations and manipulate. One ex-con revealed that a lot of con artists were picked up from Narcotics Anonymous meetings - because addicts can be manipulative and desperate.

They Practice To Get That Persona Just Right

Image Source / Business InsiderThey concentrate on developing the persona of the successful 'bigwig' that you'll feel like you can trust to make the money. Behind the scenes, con artists will decide on that persona and mask that will help them seem more confident and successful to you.

They Want To Get You 'Under The Ether' To Close The Deal

Image Source / Everyday HealthA con man will aim to get their target 'under the ether', which is a state they describe as emotions being very stirred up so that logical decisions are out the window and those emotions take over. Once the con artist has got their target into this state, they prey on the fact that emotion will take over intelligence.

It's All About A Victim's 'Need Or Greed'

Image Source / KUT.orgEither a target is so greedy that they're not thinking straight because all they're focusing on is making a whole load of whopping cash, or they have a desperate emotional need (like they lost their job or their kids need to go to college) and the con artist seems like a blessed fix for that.

Old People Are Targets For More Than Their Vulnerability

Image Source / WikipediaOlder people are more vulnerable, and more likely to have money they're sitting on. But a con artist also targets older people because they're more likely to talk about what they care about, and talk about what they're afraid of. Older people will more likely happily tell you about their grandkids, their family, their needs and also their fears of not having money, for example.

A Con Artist Explained That Men Were More Likely Targets

Image Source / WikipediaThis may surprise you, as women are constantly told they're more emotional than men, but one ex-con artist said that men were likely targets because they're more emotional than women. That men are more likely to have an ego, and be pushed by feelings of inferiority - and of course this translates to how much money they have, too.

If You Say You'll Talk With A Lawyer, They'll Hang Up

Image Source / BetterteamSome victims may be drawn in enough, but still say that they want to take a step back and discuss with their lawyer. At this point, a scammer won't push or try to play along - they'll just hang up the phone as soon as a lawyer is mentioned.

They Take Advantage Of You Believing Their Word

Image Source / CyberleadThey'll play on your trust and the power of them simply saying that something is true. A lot of victims may ask a lot of questions and claim they're going to check something, but in reality they just want to hear you confirm something, like, 'Yes, of course we're certified and legitimate' as though that's all they need to hear. But, surprisingly, a lot of people won't check - and scammers know that.

They'll Use Scams That Are Applicable To The Times

Image Source / Hopewell Estate Agents in BristolScammers will adapt very quickly to the areas where people will be most interested in making money. For example, they may switch to mortgage scams during a time when house prices are doing well, and they have potential targets lined up who have paid off their mortgages and have a property worth something.

They Can Learn So Much About You Just In The Tone Of Your Voice

Image Source / LivePersonA scammer can immediately learn what kind of person you are, and how successful their scam might be, just based on your tone of voice or the first thing you say. An ex-con artist explained that he could tell based on the high-pitched and eager voice of someone he was scamming that the person would be submissive and agree to what the artist was asking.

Personal Information Is About More Than Bank Details

Image Source / Finance MonthlyYou might think that you're protecting yourself against scammers by keeping your personal information safe, such as address, credit card details or bank account number. But personal information to con artists is about more than that. Even a passing comment about how much you love your children can give them ammunition for emotional manipulation.

They Take Advantage Of Social Compliance

Image Source / WiktionaryIn our day to day life there's an automatic compliance for authority figures or people we see as automatically to be trusted. This could be handing a waiter your bank card to pay a bill, or letting people into your home because they say they're from the water board or electric company. Scammers take advantage of this by posing as people you would usually be compliant with.

They Depend On Herd Mentality

Image Source / The Chronicles of Higher EducationA lot of con artists may take advantage of the herd mentality, where one person is more likely to agree to a scam if they can see other everyday people agreeing to it, too. These other people could also be con artists posing as everyday people who agree to what the lead con artist is saying. When you say these 'everyday' people jumping up to make some cash, it's more likely you'll follow them.

They'll Exploit A Person Willing To Do Something Illegal

Image Source / InsiderIf a con artist is peddling something which is illegal, and they manage to convince you that it's a worthwhile venture, this works in their favour because their target who agreed to it in the first place is then less likely to report the scam because it would mean admitting their own part in illegal activities.