This story is one example among many others of these online “sentimental scams”, carried out with very sophisticated manipulation techniques, adapted to the profile of the person they target. Psychologist specializing in these cyberattacks, Nathalie Granier returns to Libé on the levers and consequences of this phenomenon, facilitated by the improvement of artificial intelligence. Above all, it reminds us that no one is truly safe from falling into the trap: the attackers target their victims, who gradually lock themselves into a bubble comforting them in the idea that they have a privileged relationship.
What psychological levers are these scams based on?
There is a combination of factors that cause the victim to break down. Attackers collect a lot of information about their targets (through publications on social networks, photos, comments that provide information about their work, their personal situation, etc.) to establish a profile and use it against them. They find them mainly on social networks, where they create lists of people to manipulate; Dating sites like Tinder are also preferred platforms, where scammers create very attractive profiles. The attackers start with a friendly approach, a harmless conversation to lure the victim into their net. In the case of a romance scam, if the victim recently posted about a divorce or separation, the attacker might pretend to understand their pain and share a similar story. It opens the way to more personal and intimate exchanges. The more the victim confides, the more the attacker can weave an emotional web to gain their trust. If she is a little more vulnerable at this time, she may fall into the trap and become involved in the relationship that is being created.
Some scams may seem aberrant, too big to believe, but the victim is often caught in a pattern that disconnects them from reality. Each element sent – whether it is a message, an image, a video – reinforces the bond she believes she has. She is caught up in and often faced with an internal dilemma: she is aware that something is wrong on the one hand, but on the other she is so emotionally attached that her judgment is impaired and it would be too painful for her to recognize the flaws in your interactions with the scammer.
Are certain profiles more vulnerable than others?
An older person will be more susceptible to certain scams, since many experience social isolation combined with a lack of expertise on technology. Younger people can also be, since they spend a lot of time online. Certain personality traits can also attract scammers: for example extroverted people, who tend to share personal information, or even anxious individuals who will make decisions very quickly when stressed. In the case of romantic scams, they are often lonely, empathetic people, sensitive to the misfortune of others. Telling ourselves that this will never happen to us is a mistake since it is by feeling protected, too informed to fall into these traps, that we are less vigilant.
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What does a victim feel when they realize the deception?
It’s terribly trying. There is a double trauma in romantic scams: the loss of money and that of the relationship. She also feels shame, anger, denial, a drop in self-esteem, a loss of trust in people and technology. The victim is also physically affected: he no longer sleeps or has difficulty sleeping, has headaches, intestinal problems… The scam affects his social and personal circle, can also aggravate his financial problems… the consequences are multiple.
When the case is publicized, there may be overbidding and – even if it is not systematically noted – cyberharassment campaigns, which can aggravate the psychological impact of the scam. At the same time, publicizing these cases can also allow other victims to realize that they are not alone and relieve their guilt.
Does the fact that these scams happen online make them more effective?
If the psychological manipulation remains the same, for the victim, the screen creates a distance which reduces their ability to assess the situation and makes them less vigilant. She will also be able to receive images and videos which will keep her in the deception and reinforce her in what she thinks is a real relationship. The attacker also does not act as in a real situation and goes very far: he does not see the harm he is doing, and does not care about the emotions of his victim(s).
With the internet, distribution also happens very quickly. There can be a global reach, millions of people affected instantly: we have seen the development of real scam factories with people who massively study the profiles of victims and send them messages to trap them – we are talking about pig butchering. These complexes first developed in China, then spread to other Asian countries [un rapport de l’ONU estime qu’au moins 120 000 personnes sont employées dans de tels complexes au Myanmar, 100 000 au Cambodge, ndlr] and even now in Eastern Europe.
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Does the improvement of AI strengthen them?
This is one of the main dangers, for which one must be prepared. AI helps create highly effective messages. She is capable of using emotions, analyzing them, exploiting them. It can process enormous quantities of information: robots will collect all the likes, comments, posts and testimonials to analyze them and personalize the attacks according to the victim’s profile. Faced with these advances, we can only advise you to always recheck your sources of information and trust yourself as soon as you feel that a message is strange. The solution is above all to train and raise awareness; educate from a young age and explain these risks to people less comfortable with the internet so that they are vigilant and less vulnerable.
