con art·ist
noun
Most researchers have relied on a list of persuasive techniques put together by the social psychologist Robert Cialdini, which is also very popular among psychologists studying legitimate advertising. Here are some that we have found, in our research at Exeter, that we could easily spot in scam approaches:
- Appeals to authority and attempts to inspire trust. Scams that reach us through the post are typically thick with the kinds of symbols of authority that government agencies and banks use, or used to use – coats of arms, seals, copperplate writing, computer-readable numbers or barcodes.
- Stirring up positive emotions, often by mentioning very large sums of money or miraculous cures for serious medical conditions.
- Trying to get the potential victim to like them because we are more likely to do things that people we like ask us to do.
- Getting us to agree to do something small and not unreasonable. Then we feel committed to the “relationship”, and we are more likely to comply with the next, larger, less reasonable request.
- Urging us to secrecy about the supposed transaction they are engaging us in: we are all inclined to be private about our finances, so the fraudster is pushing an open door when he warns us to tell no one.
- Flattering people that they are experts in an area (often investment): overconfidence in our own judgment is one of the chief causes of bad economic decisions, and decisions to go along with a fraudulent approach are no exception.
See these words from the official website of his:
“I don’t go for this stuff!” I told Todd Coontz bluntly. He had just taught on the thousand-dollar principle during our conference in Dallas. “I’ve believed in seed-faith giving for decades, and I’ve seen it work time after time, but where do you get this $1,000 teaching?” He showed me from the Bible how Solomon offered a thousand animals to God. He told me there’s something very special about the number 1,000 and the miracles he has seen when people cross that line in giving. Then he challenged me: “Pastor Benny, why don’t you sow $1,000 and see what happens, and if it doesn’t work, don’t ever invite me back to speak at your events again.”
And the comments underneath:
I took a leap of faith and put my finances in Gods hands. I enjoy seeing what He does and He never fails me!
I have next to nothing and often am ashamed that I can’t feed my family even working 2 jobs avg 60 hrs a week. But my faith keeps us moving and I believe in His promises! How and where can I plant my seed?? I am ready to offer up all now for increase!!!!!!!
(source: https://www.bennyhinn.org/unprecedented-harvest/)
“Hinn writes that he’s asking for $1,000 because there’s something special and biblical about the number 1000. But it’d be *crazy* to just ask for 1,000 pennies, right? Of course, it would. Jesus totally meant dollars. American dollars.” (source: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2014/06/17/scam-artist-preacher-benny-hinn-give-me-1000-and-youll-somehow-become-rich/)
Televangelist BENNY HINN Heckled at Airport ‘WORLD’S GREATEST SCAMMER
Benny Hinn: A Massive Fraud & A Crook
People will never tired of using your weaknesses, unless if you find ways to better yourself. When you show up your weaknesses and how lost and desperate you are they will offer you a fake cure for temporary treatment. But no matter how you feel guided, this will not cure you at all, although it will make you addicted to materials and these scammers.
Awareness is one of the keys before you actually work on yourself. The most painful and hard one, because getting to know reality will disturb you. It might even ruin your visions, your fantasies. But in the end, you will realize what is happening around you. Who is saying the truth and who is saying the lie.
Comfort kills productivity and not-discovered-possible-personality.
So what does make someone vulnerable?
The research has identified a number of characteristics that people who are victims of scams seem to share in common. Some of these traits – like a lack of self-control – we would probably recognize as dangerous. But others – a trust in authority, a desire to act in the same way as our friends, or a tendency to act in a consistent way – we might think of as good characteristics.
Hidden knowledge
The very fact that scammers clearly are aware of our psychological vulnerabilities – no matter how they gained that knowledge – suggests they can potentially teach us as much as their victims about confidence tricks. (source: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20141003-the-mind-tricks-of-scammers)
self-a·ware·ness
Why are you afraid to ask questions?
Find your own.
You.
rumithepurr 