Examining the influence of emotional arousal and scam preventive messaging on susceptibility to scams
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Examining the influence of emotional arousal and scam preventive messaging on susceptibility to scams Hui Ying Lu1 · Stephanie Chan1 · Whistine Chai1 · Shi Mian Lau1 · Majeed Khader1
© Springer Nature Limited 2020
Abstract With the increase in scams globally and the elusive methods of perpetrators, law enforcement agencies have turned to public education and awareness programs to decrease the number of scam victims. This has also raised a need to look into the psychology of scams and how they can be prevented. Emotional arousal has been shown to hinder cognitive decision-making processes in scam victims, subsequently influencing them to fall prey to scams. Despite this, messages used in scam prevention campaigns have been framed in ways that appeal to rational cognitive processes. This exploratory study examined two research questions: do (a) the type of messaging used in scam prevention posters (cognitive-focused poster vs. emotion-normalising poster) and (b) emotional arousal (positive arousal vs. negative arousal vs. no arousal) influence one’s susceptibility to scams? Susceptibility to scams was measured through participants’ intention to purchase items during a fake e-commerce scam scenario. Emotional arousal was measured with a combination of heart rate variability (HRV) data obtained through wearable heart rate trackers, and self-report scales. Results of the study showed that participants who viewed emotion-normalising posters demonstrated a lower susceptibility to scams compared to those who viewed the cognitive-focused poster. However, emotional arousal was not found to have any influence on one’s susceptibility to scams. These findings serve to inform crime prevention campaigns by law enforcement. Findings from this exploratory study can also encourage further research into the scam prevention research. Keywords Scams · Scam prevention · Crime prevention · Messaging
* Hui Ying Lu 1
Home Team Behavioural Sciences Centre, 501 Old Choa Chu Kang Rd, Singapore 698928, Singapore Vol.:(0123456789)
H. Y. Lu et al.
Introduction While the rise of the internet has led to enhanced communications and convenience, it has also opened up abundant opportunities for cybercrime and misuse (Wall 2001). As such, online retail platforms have been expanding faster than the implementation of legal measures and policies to safeguard consumers’ security. This has a resultant effect of exposing consumers to more e-commerce scams. According to the Mid-Year Crime Statistics for January to June 2018 (Singapore Police Force 2018, p. 3), e-commerce scam counts in Singapore have increased to 1277 in the first half of 2018, from 808 cases in the same period last year, with the total amount cheated reaching almost S$1 million dollars. The same report highlighted that 80% of the scam cases occurred through Carousell, a popular online marketplace for person-to-person buying and selling in Singapore. These trends reinforce the importance of looking into explanations for scams and reviewing present scam prevention strategies to r
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