The document discusses the dark side of the web including scams, fraud, and phishing. It defines different types of scams and fraud, and explores the motivations and impacts. It examines key actors like scammers and victims, as well as enabling factors like technology and lack of awareness. The psychology of both scammers and victims is discussed. Strategies to protect against scams are provided, as well as ways to respond if one becomes a victim. The rise of AI in scams is also mentioned. The document concludes by discussing the role of engineering leaders in addressing this issue through character, vision, competency, involvement and collaboration.

2. The Dark Side of the
Web: Scam, Fraud and
Phishing
Presented By:
Harsh Patel
Kush Patel
Shivang Goyal
Shubham Chaudhari
Yousuf Mohd Sayeed
Dr. Minha R Ha.
Guided By:

3. Problem Definition
Frauds, scams, and phishing are major threats
to individuals and organizations worldwide,
causing substantial financial losses and
reputational damage. These criminal activities
exploit vulnerabilities in the online world,
targeting unsuspecting victims who may not
have the necessary knowledge to protect
themselves. To address this problem,
awareness must be raised, and our group aims
to research strategies that can be used to
tackle this problem.

4. Introduction
Scam, Fraud and Phishing
Scam:
• False promises, misinformation, and
psychological manipulation
• Fake websites, telemarketing calls
Fraud:
• Deception or misrepresentation
• Identity theft, credit card fraud
Phishing:
• Cyber criminals
• Fraudulent emails, text messages

5. Motivation
Financial
gain
Revenge
Personal
Gain
Political
or social
Thrill-
seeking
What drives scammers to do such activities?

6. Impact of Fraud, Scams, and Phishing

7. Factors that enable
these criminal activities:
Scammer/
Fraudsters
Group Leader
Researcher
Planner
Executor
Victims
Students
Foreigners
Job Seekers
Elderly
people
Third Party
Scam Leader
Organizations
Cyber-police
Mechanisms
Technology
Provide the
infrastructure
that allows
scammers to
reach a wider
audience
Payment
Methods
Global Reach
Lack of
Awareness
Makes more
vulnerable to
falling victim
Trust Issues
Lack of
Regulations
Not enough
security
Cyber police
not as
effective
Key Actors:

8. INSIDE THE MIND OF SCAMMER
Root Causes
• Technology is constantly evolving
• Where are we going wrong?
Why is it important
• Prevent scams and be cautious
• Intervene by law enforcements to
track down scammers, identify
their victims
• To help individuals rehabilitate
and prevent recidivism.
• Rationalization
• Empathy deficit
• Narcissism
• Skilful manipulation
Traits

9. INSIDE THE MIND OF SCAMMER
• Rationalization –
1. Believe system is unfair, blame the victims
AL Capone – An American Gangster
"I have spent the best years of my life-giving people the lighter
pleasures, helping them have a good time, and all I get is abuse, the
existence of a hunted man."
• Empathy deficit –
1. Treat Victims as objects for personal gain,
2. avoid feeling guilty or remorseful
• Narcissism -
1. An inflated sense of self-importance and a constant need for attention
and admiration.
2. Motivated by the desire to impress others or to feel important and
powerful
• Skillful manipulation
1. Tactics to gain trust, including flattery, emotional appeals, and false
promises.
THE FOOT IN THE DOOR TECHNIQUE
LET US LEARN FROM NETFLIX

10. PSYCHOLOGY OF VICTIMS
Desperation Trust
Over
confidence
Fear of
missing out
Greed

11. Protecting Yourself from Scam, Phishing, and Fraud
Use strong passwords and two-
factor authentication to protect
online accounts
Be cautious when opening
emails or clicking on links from
unknown sources
Keep personal information
private and always verify the
legitimacy of requests for
personal information
Use anti-virus software
and keep it updated to
protect against malware
and other threats
Regularly monitor
bank and credit card
statements for
suspicious activity
Act quickly if you
suspect you have
become a victim of
scam, phishing, or fraud
Seek assistance from
specialized
organizations and
resources

12. What if you are already scammed?
Don’t be depressed/ Stay calm
Report the incident to authorities
Contact your bank or credit card company
Seek legal assistance

13. • Building awareness :
1. Educating oneself about common scam tactics and being
skeptical of unsolicited offers or requests can help reduce
the likelihood of falling victim to a scam.
• Avoiding emotional decision-making:
1. Be aware of your emotions and avoid making decisions
when you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed.
2. Taking a step back, assessing the situation logically, and
consulting with trusted advisors can help prevent making
impulsive decisions.
• Developing healthy skepticism:
1. Be skeptical of anything that seems too good to be true
2. Questioning information and verifying sources can help
prevent falling for false or misleading information. This can
also help avoid confirmation bias, where one is more likely
to believe information that confirms pre-existing beliefs.
• Building resilience:
1. Developing resilience through social support, self-care, and
positive coping mechanisms can help reduce vulnerability to
scams.
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGIES

14. • Use cognitive reframing:
1. Cognitive reframing involves changing the way you think about a
situation to reduce negative emotions or behaviors.
2. When you receive a suspicious email or message, try reframing
your thoughts by considering alternative explanations or
questioning the authenticity of the message. This can help
reduce the emotional impact and make it easier to make
rational decisions.
• Use self-control strategies:
1. Self-control strategies such as distraction, delay, or self-talk can
help reduce impulsive decision-making and increase the
likelihood that you will make rational decisions.
2. If you receive a message asking you to take action, try delaying
your response and taking some time to think it over.
• Use mindfulness techniques:.
1. Mindfulness techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or
body scan can help reduce stress and improve your ability to
make rational decisions when faced with a potential scam.
2. If you feel overwhelmed or stressed by a message or offer, try
practicing mindfulness to help calm your mind and reduce the
emotional impact.
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGIES

15. PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE !
FAKE! • FAKE phishing links, QR’s
• Blockchain- Sense of urgency, FOMO
DON’T CATCH THE FALLING KNIFE!
• Understand the Purpose of Bitcoin. A 500 $
investment cannot transfer you 250,000
BTC
1BTC = 30,000 CAD
• Look for the 🔒 symbol on the websites.
• Cryptocurrency exchanges are not Banks.
FTX collapse, VAULD suspends Withdrawals
NOT YOUR KEYS, NOT YOUR CRYPTO

16. Fraud in the age of AI
• The use of AI in scams and fraud is a
growing concern.
• Scammers can use AI to create
realistic deepfake videos and voice
recordings.
• AI-powered chatbots can be used to
scam people by mimicking human
conversations.
• AI can be used to analyze data and
create targeted phishing campaigns.

17. Our Role as Engineering Leaders
• Character- Desire to innovate and solve
societal problems in an ethical and
responsible way.
• Vision- Providing Platform and Creating
Awareness around the world and starting
from the Leaders itself!
• Competency- Knowledge and skills to
identify scams. Staying informed about the
tactics and train our teams to do the same.
• Involvement- Creating a culture of
vigilance, and providing necessary support
to help people stay safe online
• Collaboration- Build strong partnership
with other leaders, experts, stakeholders to
address the issue on a broader scale.

18. References
Konnikova, M. (2016, July 27). The psychology of con artists, and how to avoid them [Video].
YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSlBiMdlyyU&t=133s
Norris, G., Brookes, A. & Dowell, D. The Psychology of Internet Fraud Victimisation: a Systematic
Review. J Police Crim Psych 34, 231–245 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-019-09334-5
Watts, S. (2019, March 21). The Psychology Behind Scamming. Forbes. Retrieved from
https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahwatts/2019/03/21/the-psychology-behind-
scamming/?sh=62e56f953447
Vircom. (n.d.). Phishing Examples, Techniques, and Motivations. Retrieved March 26, 2023, from
https://www.vircom.com/blog/phishing-examples-techniques-motivations/