The Uncanny Valley and Scams – A View of Scam Victims’ Suspension of Disbelief – 2024

The Uncanny Valley and Scams – A View of Scam Victims’ Suspension of Disbelief

How these Concepts Play a Significant Role in Scams and their Impact on Scam Victims

Primary Category: Psychology of Scams

Author:
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

With scams and deception, suspension of disbelief and the Uncanny Valley both play critical roles in how scam victims are manipulated.

Suspension of disbelief allows victims to overlook subtle inconsistencies or “off” elements in a scammer’s communication—whether it’s slightly unnatural language, odd phrasing, or even strange behavior in deepfake videos—because they are emotionally invested in the relationship or narrative presented by the scammer.

The Uncanny Valley, typically associated with unease triggered by near-human but slightly flawed entities, can also apply to written and visual communications that seem almost real but provoke a subtle discomfort.

Why Are We More Likely To Trust Total Strangers Now? 2024

Why Are We More Likely To Trust Total Strangers Now?

We were not always like this! Even 120 years ago, trusting did not come normally in society.

An Anthropological & Sociological Essay

Main Categories: Cognitive Biases / Anthropology / Sociology

Author:
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

The evolution of trust from cautiousness to openness towards strangers reflects a complex interplay of historical, cultural, and technological factors.

Initially spurred by post-pandemic euphoria and the Roaring Twenties’ optimism, trust eroded during World War II, rebounded briefly post-war, and waned again during the Cold War.

The Flower Generation challenged norms in the 1960s, fostering unity and trust.

The digital revolution accelerated trust normalization, facilitated by social media, e-commerce, and peer-to-peer economies.

Today, familiarity, social proof, and cognitive biases shape trust behaviors, despite vulnerabilities exploited by cybercriminals.

Balancing trust with vigilance is a survival necessity in maintaining safe interactions with anyone now! Where the allure of trust often collides with the reality of exploitation is where the criminal element hides.

Trust: Romance Scams Betrayal And Scam Victims – 2024

Betrayal And The Destruction Of Trust In Scam Victims

Scam Victim Psychology & Recovery

Authors:
• Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

Article Abstract

Romance scams inflict profound emotional and psychological harm, far exceeding mere financial loss. This paper delves into the neurochemical basis of trust formation and the devastating repercussions when that trust is violently betrayed. We explore the brain regions, hormones, and neurotransmitters involved in building intimacy, and the cascade of negative effects triggered by its shattering.

Trust