Cyber fraud has become a serious issue in India, affecting both individuals and organisations. Many people have lost crores of rupees, and the emotional impact on the individual is often severe. NDTV’s ‘Hum Log’ recently invited Psychologist Dr Arvind Otta to understand the psychology behind cybercrime and digital arrests.
Several shocking cases related to online scams and digital arrests have come to light recently. In Delhi, a 50-year-old journalist lost ₹1.86 crore in an online scam. In another case, a scammer impersonating Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud convinced a victim to transfer ₹1.26 crore.
These cases show the financial losses and the emotional harm caused by cybercriminals. Many victims are manipulated into compromising situations, leaving them with trauma. As cybercrime continues to grow, people need to stay informed and take steps to protect themselves from falling victim to these scams.
How Scammers Facilitate Digital Arrests
Dr Otta explained that scammer use two basic psychological tricks first, the halo effect, and then sophisticated strategies to make people obedient. The Halo Effect happens when you make positive assumptions about someone based on the little information you have. In digital Arrests, Scammers use personal information such as an individual’s Aadhar number, workplace, vehicle number, last vacation or family details to convince them that they are speaking from a position of Authority or government official. Because of the Halo effect, We believe that if the information is correct, then the person who is sharing the information is also genuine.
They can accuse the victim of a false crime by validating its link to them, creating a situation filled with fear and panic. They then start instructing the victims, like not leaving their house or cutting the phone line, leading the individual to a state of ‘digital arrest’. Because we strongly believe that a person is genuine, we relate to it and develop fear.
According to Dr. Otta, when scammers sense a person is in fear, they start ordering (creating a sense of obedience). They order minor things, and when the person/victim follows smaller requests, they become more susceptible to larger demands, including transferring money to the criminal’s account. This psychological method, where small tasks are requested and, once accepted, the door is opened for a larger request, is known as the ‘foot-in-the-door’. This approach elaborates on the idea that people are more likely to agree to a bigger task after completing a smaller one.
Read More: The Role of Cybersecurity in Mental Well-being
Strategies used by Cyber Criminals during Digital Arrests
A large part of cybercrime revolves around social engineering, tricking people into making them disclose confidential information. Cybercriminals exploit the human psychology through various tactics:
- Authority: They use their identities of authority to force compliance. For instance, they will forward calls that appear to be coming from a DGP.
- Fear and Urgency: Most phishing scams create fear and urgency, causing the targeted person to act quickly without thinking the situation through. This causes people to act quickly, putting them in danger of becoming victims.
- Charm and Sympathy: To the advantage of cyber criminals, charm and sympathy might also be used to gain confidence from a person.
What goes on in the minds of Cyber Criminals?
Several studies have concluded that cybercriminals possess certain psychological traits.
- Low Empathy: Most cyber criminals have low empathy, and people in this category do not care about the ill effects their behaviour might have.
- Impulsiveness and Adrenaline Addiction: Cybercriminals often have a big appetite for risk-taking and have an impulsive nature. This often results in them making dangerous decisions and paying little heed to the probable aftermath.
- The Dark Tetrad: Researchers have identified several associations between cybercrimes and personality traits often called the “dark tetrad.” This tetrad consists of Narcissism, Machiavellianism, Psychopathy, and Sadism. These traits are widely associated with online harassment and trolling behaviours.
Prevention Measures
During the program, Dr. Arvind Otta guided the viewers on how to navigate situations like these. The first step is to not panic and bring back your composure. The next thing to follow is to step back from the situation and ask yourself these three questions.
- What will happen if I follow their instructions?
- What will happen if I don’t follow their instructions?
- What will happen if this is a scam?
These reflective questions can help individuals think more clearly during panic situations, like cyber fraud. They encourage the individual to assess the situation and respond appropriately.
In addition to reflective questions, awareness and critical thinking are two important ways to deal with cyber fraud. First, educating people about good cybersecurity practices helps them recognise potential threats early, preventing them from falling victim to scams. Second is critical thinking, which should allow individuals to assess whether a request or communication is genuine, helping them decide if it aligns with their needs or expectations. Dr Otta highlighted the importance of being aware and thinking critically to avoid falling for cyber crimes like digital arrests.
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