Breaking the Scam Spell: From Grooming to Intervention with Martina Dove, Scam psychology expert
In this powerful episode of Scam Rangers, Ayelet Biger-Levin sits down with scam psychology expert Martina Dove to dive deep into the psychology of scams. Martina shares her insights on the psychological tactics used by scammers and the most effective methods for prevention and intervention.
The conversation dives deep into the origins of Martina's research, which began with her interest in the Barnum effect , a phenomenon where people accept vague feedback as true when it applies to everyone. Barnum, an 1800s magician, even wrote a book on scams that are still in operation today, like romance scams and lotteries. Martina emphasizes that scams are now a "product that caters for everyone", as vulnerability depends on individual circumstances and personality, not IQ.
Key Takeaways: The Scam Lifecycle and Psychology
- The Scammer's Hook: Scams, which now feature excellent grammar due to AI, prey on either opportunity (like job or romance scams) or fear (like sextortion). Once a victim responds to the initial communication, it's difficult to stop engaging.
- Grooming: A "Wear-Down" Process: Scams that go on for a long time—like pig butchering—evoke multiple visceral influences, starting with excitement and then inducing anxiety and fear of loss. The scammer will subtly withdraw or use verbal abuse if the victim does not comply. This wear-down period, which can last months, can cause victims to lose executive functions, affecting their memory and decision-making.
- Targeting Trust: Scammers groom victims to distrust their bank by teaching them that the bank will try to stop them, or by creating elaborate stories, such as a regulator investigating internal fraud. By the time the bank intervenes, the victim is a "worn out person" who truly believes the scammer's narrative.
- Effective Intervention: Empathy is Key: Authoritarian warnings, like "Don't panic" or "Never click links," are proven not to work, as they trigger a physiological reaction and make people switch off. Instead, interventions—especially from "Break the Spell" teams—need to be conversational and empathetic. Martina suggests asking the victim to simply "stall" the transfer, which often causes the scammer to escalate pressure, providing a warning sign to the victim.
You can find more about Martina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martina-dove/
A link to her book: https://www.routledge.com/The-Psychology-of-Fraud-Persuasion-and-Scam-Techniques-Understanding-What-Makes-Us-Vulnerable/Dove/p/book/9781032953908
This podcast is hosted by Ayelet Biger-Levin, who has spent the last 15 years building technology to help financial institutions authenticate their customers and identify fraud. She believes that when it comes to scams, the story starts well before the transaction. Ayelet created this podcast to talk about the human side of scams and to learn from those dedicated to advocating for scam victims and taking action against fraud.
Be sure to follow Ayelet on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-biger-levin/
Learn More: https://www.rangersai.com/
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