Details of an Internet Scam

Most scams use a "hook" to provoke a reaction. The idea for it to be so, is that if you react they have control over you. If one takes the time to stop and think things through further, one regains control and usually discovers the scam. Some usual "hooks" generate: urgency, uncertainty, sex, fear, indignation, anger. In this case it is about urgency, uncertainty and fear. By setting such a low price, they increase the urgency, since one fears missing out on the supply. Then they combine it by telling me that there was a mistake in the office, trying to make me believe that they are incompetent and that if I act quickly, I could take advantage of their mistake.

The second email highlights the urgency, trying to get it to pay them fast. I don't answer, but if I had, the next step of a scam like this would be to sweeten the offer if I act immediately, often bragging about sending me my non-existent camera with a gift item (like a cell phone) by overnight shipping if I immediately give them the payment information.

Of course, if I gave them my payment information, they would empty my account, and if they were a large group of scammers, they would start using my account to traffic stolen money.

See original.