Scammers, Really?
Scamming is as old as dirt and twice as grimy. Yep, you read that right - fraud has been around longer than your ancient ancestor’s favorite marketplace swindle. From con men selling “miracle” relics to modern-day Bitcoin bros pushing shady investments, scammers have always been out there. And guess what? They’re not going anywhere.
But we’re not here to give scammers credit (they don’t deserve it). We’re here to take you on a wild ride through the history of scams, because knowing how these con artists have evolved might just keep you from falling for their nonsense today. Spoiler alert: they aren’t as smart as they think they are, and if you can spot the patterns, you’re already one step ahead.
Ancient Times: Where It All Began
Fake Relics, Fake Gods, Fake Everything
Once upon a time, if you were a scammer in Ancient Rome or Greece, you could sell a blessed goat hair to gullible tourists. And trust us, people bought it. Scammers back then weren’t exactly subtle - they'd offer you fake relics, potions, and prayers for just about any problem you had. From broken bones to a bad harvest, someone was waiting to sell you a cure that was nothing more than snake oil. Religious relics?
Oh, don’t even get us started. These shitters would parade around “pieces of the True Cross” or “hairs from Zeus’s beard,” and people believed it. Why? Because where there’s hope, there’s always a sucker ready to believe in miracles. And it wasn’t just relics. Fake divine messages, omens, and prophecies were peddled by self-proclaimed soothsayers and oracles who had nothing but a smooth tongue and a knack for making money off other people’s fear. Whether it was a plague, a bad crop, or even love troubles, scammers always had a magic cure or blessing - for the right price, of course.
What’s fascinating is that this wasn’t just a problem of the past. Even in the Middle Ages, relics were so highly sought after that a black market for them thrived. Churches and private collectors would pay huge sums for these artifacts, even though many were fake. In fact, research from Oxford University highlights how relics - believed to have miraculous powers - were spread across Christian networks, with scientific studies now showing that many were misidentified or outright counterfeits. Yet, the belief in their power was so strong that demand remained high despite skepticism from various intellectuals of the time. [1] [2]
Why Did It Work?
People in ancient times were desperate for solutions, and scamming fed off that desperation. It’s the same reason why scammers today can sell fake cures or shady miracle diets. The psychology hasn’t changed. Hope and faith were powerful motivators, and scammers knew it - just like they do today. When you’re in trouble, you want to believe in something, anything, that might solve your problem, and scammers are more than happy to step in with their bogus promises.
Even back then, some people were skeptical of these so-called miracles, but the sheer emotional pull of hope often overpowered rational thinking. And when the local priest or leader backed the relic's authenticity? Well, that sealed the deal.
Fun Fact: Scammers didn’t even need a product back then. Just some convincing words and an air of authority. Sound familiar? (Looking at you, Nigerian Prince.)
Smooth Talkers and Dirty Deeds
Confidence Men and their Bullshit
Fast forward to the 1800s, where con men weren’t just petty pickpockets or snake oil salesmen. These tricksters were the ultimate smooth talkers, stealing not physical goods but something far more valuable - trust. Enter the confidence man, a figure that relied on charisma, charm, and an uncanny ability to gain someone’s faith just long enough to pull the rug out from under them.
One of the earliest known con artists, William Thompson, became notorious in the mid-19th century for his simple yet effective scam. He would approach well-dressed strangers, start a friendly conversation, and then ask, “Have you confidence in me to trust me with your watch until tomorrow?” Many unsuspecting victims handed over their valuables, never to see them again. It was from this smooth-talking criminal that the term “confidence man” was coined.
But Thompson was not alone in his craft. Con men like Victor Lustig, who managed to sell the Eiffel Tower - twice - and Charles Ponzi, infamous for his eponymous Ponzi scheme, turned deception into an art form. Their cons were all about building relationships and fostering trust with their victims, ultimately leading them to part with their money willingly. [3], [4], [5]
Trust Issues
The success of these schemes hinged on one fundamental principle - human trust. As social creatures, we naturally tend to trust others, especially when they present themselves as authoritative or friendly figures. Con men knew this and weaponized it, manipulating their victims through charm and persuasion. According to experts, cons often follow a well-structured process, carefully gaining trust step by step until the victim is fully committed.
Studies have shown that people are often susceptible to scams not because they are gullible, but because they are too trusting in the wrong contexts. The human brain is wired to seek out social bonds and cooperation, which makes it easier for smooth talkers to exploit our cognitive biases.
Even today, this psychology holds true - scams thrive on our willingness to believe in the possibility of quick riches or incredible deals.
Confidence men didn’t just scam people - they befriended them, making victims feel like they were getting in on something exclusive. Whether it was selling a fake investment scheme or promising a cut of an unclaimed fortune, the scam relied on people believing in something just too good to be true. [6], [7], [8]
The 20th Century
Ponzi Schemes: It’s All in the Name
Even if you don’t know what it is, you’ve definitely heard of it. Charles Ponzi himself gave this scam its name, and boy, did it work (for a while). He promised people ridiculous returns on their investments, and for the early birds, he actually paid up. How? Simple - he took money from new investors and handed it to the old ones.
Sound familiar? It should. Because even a century later, we still fall for variations of the Ponzi scheme (looking at you, crypto “investments”).
Phone Scams: The OG Spam Callers
Telemarketers were running scams before you even had a mobile phone. These early versions of today’s “your car warranty has expired” calls were all about urgency and fear. Scammers would pretend to be everything from tax collectors to lawyers, and you - terrified - would give them whatever info they needed.
They weren’t great at it, but neither are today’s phone scammers, and yet... people still fall for it.
Greed and Fear
Whether it’s a Ponzi scheme promising you riches or a phone scam terrifying you into submission, scammers have two favorite tools: greed and fear. They play on your emotions, making you feel like you’re either about to lose something or about to get something huge. Either way, your rational brain? Out the window.
The Internet Era: Scams Go Digital
Phishing: You Got Hooked
With the rise of the internet came a new generation of scams: phishing. Scammers now impersonate trusted sources - your bank, boss, or even a family member - to trick you into giving up sensitive information. It's always something urgent: “Your account is locked!” or “Click here to reset your password!” And just like that, you’re caught in the trap.
What’s scary is that phishing attacks remain incredibly effective, with 91% of all phishing attempts sent via email. In 2023, over 45 million high-risk email threats were detected, many containing malicious links or attachments. Even more alarming, 45% of ransomware attacks were initiated through phishing emails, showing just how dangerous a single click can be.
Nigerian Prince and the Phishing Hall of Shame
Let’s talk about the infamous Nigerian Prince scam. This email-based fraud involves a supposed royal figure promising a huge payout in exchange for your bank details. While it might sound absurd now, the scam has evolved and persists because it preys on human greed. Scammers continue to target vulnerable individuals, leveraging old tactics with modern twists like "smishing" (SMS phishing) and "vishing" (voice phishing), making them harder to detect.
Why Do We Fall For It?
Despite numerous warnings, phishing remains the most reported cybercrime, with the IC3 receiving 300,487 reports in 2023 alone. People often fall for phishing attacks due to the sense of urgency scammers create, manipulating the natural human tendency to respond quickly without verifying the details. Phishing losses totaled more than $53 million in 2024, as people were tricked into handing over personal and financial information.
As phishing tactics evolve, cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated, even using AI-generated emails to make their attacks more personalized and harder to detect. Staying vigilant and cautious is more important than ever.
What's Going On in Their Heads?
Greed, Power, and the Thrill of Control
So, why do people scam? At its core, it's because scamming is easy. Scammers can make massive amounts of money from the comfort of their couch. But it's not always just about the cash; for many, it's also about power and control. The thrill of outsmarting someone and manipulating them gives certain scammers a rush, much like gambling. Psychologists have pointed out that some scammers show traits of narcissistic and antisocial personality disorders, which makes them crave attention and lack empathy for their victims.
Scammers use psychological tactics to exploit human emotions—like fear, urgency, and trust. By inducing fear, such as making you believe you're going to lose something valuable, or by playing on your trust in authority figures, scammers create a situation where victims act without thinking. It’s all about manipulating emotions to get what they want.
Are All Scammers Evil?
While some scammers may operate out of desperation, most do it out of laziness or selfishness. Research indicates that many scammers are motivated purely by self-interest, and in some cases, they rationalize their behavior, believing that their victims deserve it for being gullible. This lack of empathy, coupled with a desire for easy gains, is what drives many of them.
Fun Fact: If these scammers put half the effort into a real job, they might actually be billionaires by now!
Fear, Greed, and Hope: Why Do People Fall for This?
Scammers are pros at pushing your emotional buttons. They rely on fear, greed, and hope. Fear of missing out, greed for quick riches, and hope that maybe this one deal is legit—all lead to people falling for the bait. It's a psychological manipulation that exploits these emotions, tricking victims into making decisions without thinking source.
Trust: The Achilles' Heel
Humans are naturally built to trust, which helps society function but also makes us vulnerable. Scammers prey on this instinct, using it to get past our defenses. Once they have your trust, everything else becomes easy. That’s why they often impersonate people or institutions you naturally trust, like a bank, the government, or even your friends.
The Future of Scams
AI and Deepfake Scams: It’s Getting Weird
Scammers are leveling up. Now, they’re using AI to create convincing fake videos of CEOs asking for Bitcoin or deepfakes of celebrities “endorsing” their shady schemes. We’re in a whole new era of fraud, folks, and the lines between real and fake are blurring fast.
Cryptocurrency Scams: Ponzi Schemes 2.0
Crypto may be the future, but that doesn’t mean scammers haven’t figured out how to cash in on it. Fake crypto exchanges, pump-and-dump schemes, and shady ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings) are just the latest versions of classic Ponzi schemes - now with blockchain buzzwords.
Conclusion
Scams have been around since humans first learned to lie, and they’re not going anywhere. The trick? Keep your wits about you, don’t trust strangers!