Why Do People Get Scammed? (Replay)

What makes a con succeed? Does snake oil actually work? And just how gullible is Angela?

SOURCES:Robert Cialdini • , professor emeritus of psychology and marketing at Arizona State University. Yaniv Hanoch • , professor of decision sciences at Coventry University. Hugo Mercier • , research scientist at the French National Centre for Scientific Research. George Parker • , 19-20th century American con artist. Clark Stanley • , 19th century American herbalist and quack doctor. William Thompson • , 19th century American criminal and con artist. Danny Wallace • , British filmmaker, comedian, writer, and actor. Stacey Wood • , professor of psychology at Scripps College.

RESOURCES: • " They Thought Loved Ones Were Calling for Help. It Was an A.I. Scam • ," by Pranshu Verma ( The Washington Post, • 2023). • " Who Experiences Scams? A Story for All Ages • ," by the Federal Trade Commission (2022). • " The Scams Among Us: Who Falls Prey and Why • ," by Yaniv Hanoch and Stacey Wood ( Current Directions in Psychological Science, • 2021). • " The Nigerian Prince Scam Is Still Fooling People. Here’s Why • ," by Eleanor Cummins ( Popular Science, • 2020). • " How Gullible Are We? A Review of the Evidence From Psychology and Social Science • ," by Hugo Mercier ( Review of General Psychology, • 2017). • " The Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower. Twice • ," by Jeff Maysh ( Smithsonian Magazine, • 2016). • " Why Your Brain Loves Good Storytelling • ," by Paul J. Zak ( Harvard Business Review, • 2014). • " A History Of 'Snake Oil Salesmen • ,'" by Lakshmi Gandhi ( Code Switch, • 2013). Yes Man, • by Danny Wallace (2005). • " For You, Half Price • ," by Gabriel Cohen ( The New York Times, • 2005). Influence, • by Robert Cialdini (1984). • " Arrest of the Confidence Man • ," ( New York Herald • , 1849).

EXTRAS: • " Are N.F.T.s All Scams? • " by Freakonomics Radio • (2022). • " Trust Me • ," by Freakonomics Radio • (2016).