Why Do Smart People Fall For Dumb Hoaxes and Transparent Scams? (Article Has Been Moved)

Every day, thousands of Internet users fall for silly hoaxes and transparent scams. Why? Many commentators suggest that all of the people who fall for such scams and hoaxes are just plain stupid. But, this is not true…

This article has now been revised, updated, and moved to a new home on Medium.

You can read the new version here:

Why Do Otherwise Smart People Fall For Obvious Scams and Hoaxes?

‘Herewith Proof of Payment’ Malware Email

Supposedly, this "payment invoice" email contains proof of a recent payment in an attached PowerPoint file. However, the email is not a genuine payment notification. Instead, it is designed to trick people into downloading and installing malware. If you click the link or attempt to open the attachment, a malicious file will be downloaded. If…

Keep an eye out for fake Amazon order notification emails that ask you to call "fraud prevention support" if you didn't authorize the supposed payment.

If you use Facebook Messenger, keep an eye out for posts with the text "Look what I've found". The posts supposedly link to a "private video".

These rather compelling images depicting houses in weird places have been circulating via email and social media since at least 2007.

According to a post that is currently circulating rapidly on Facebook, Cadbury Australia is giving everyone who shares and comments a free chocolate hamper.

Some scam attempts are just so silly and transparently fraudulent, that they are almost amusing.

According to this email, which purports to be from Netflix, your automatic payment for the service 'cannot process" and you must click a link to update your "payment methode".

Criminals use many ways to distribute malware. However, among such tactics, they repeatedly use variations of the following three methods in their malware email campaigns.

A favourite scammer ruse is to pose as a high profile celebrity who is supposedly giving away cash and prizes to selected fans.

Circulating message claims that NASA has predicted a total blackout of the planet for a three-day period in December.

According to this email, which claims to be from the "Mail Administrator", you will be blocked from receiving email within the next 24 hours.

According to this email, lottery winner Mr Charles W Jackson Jr has selected you as the recipient of a portion of his prize money.

If you are a Netflix customer, be aware that criminals regularly use the video streaming company's name and logo to steal sensitive personal information, distribute malware, and trick people into signing up for fraudulent "Netflix alternatives".

According to a post currently being distributed on Facebook, you can get a chance to win a free 2020 Ram 1500 truck just by sharing, commenting, and clicking a link to register.

According to this email, which purports to be from the United States Postal Service (USPS) there has been a problem with your package.

According to a post that is currently being shared on Facebook, UK retailer Argos has decided to do something special by giving away 200 TVs that are sitting in the company's warehouse.

According to a message that began circulating via WhatsApp in July 2020, you should not open a video called "Argentina is doing it". Supposedly, opening the video will hack your phone.

According to this message, which purports to be from webmail software provider Roundcube, your email account needs to be updated with new security features.

This series of unusual photographs depicting a small snake caught in a spider's web has been circulating via social media and email since 2008.

According to this "credit notice" email, which claims to be from South African tax agency SARS, you need to confirm your epayment returns by opening an attached file

According to this message, your email account password is about to expire. It instructs you to click a link if you want to keep using the same password.