“Bro, I seriously don’t get it,” Rishi muttered as he threw his phone on the table, “how are people still getting fooled in 2025? I mean, haven’t we all learned the hard way by now?”
Arjun raised an eyebrow, half-smiling as he sipped his black coffee.
“You’d think, right? But the scams are getting smarter, and the people? Well, still trusting like it’s a simpler time.”
The café was buzzing, but their table had turned into a full-blown postmortem of India’s never-ending scam saga.
Why People Get Scammed Online?
“From fake job offers to GST frauds, these scams are increasing, and even after so many news reports and alerts, some people are falling into the trap. What made them fall victim?” Rishi said in a frustrated voice.
Arjun and Rishi then went into a deep conversation, and here’s what they pieced together over an hour, and you might just find yourself nodding along.
1. “It Can’t Happen to Me” Syndrome
“People genuinely believe scams happen to other people,” Arjun said, shaking his head. “Like they’re somehow immune.”
Rishi nodded. “Yeah, until their UPI is wiped clean.”
There’s this strange sense of invulnerability among many, educated or not.
Everyone reads about scams, forwards WhatsApp warnings… but when it’s their turn?
They still click the link. It’s not ignorance—it’s misplaced confidence.
2. Greed Hiding Behind as an Opportunity
“That Rs. 5 lakh return on a Rs. 50K crypto investment… sounds too good to be true, right?” Arjun laughed.
“Yet people still go for it,” Rishi added. “And when they lose money? They call it bad luck instead of a bad decision.”
Arjun responded on this, “Similar to this, there is a prepaid task scam. People fall into the trap just to make easy money, but scammers have another plan; they make them pay to unlock tasks and later vanish with their hard-earned money.”
Scammers know this: offer something so lucrative that the victim wants it to be true.
3. Fear-Based Traps
“Your PAN card is being used in illegal activity.”
“This is the police station. Pay ₹10,000 and settle the matter right now.”
“They play on fear. Not logic,” Arjun explained.
Fear gets you to act faster than greed. And the scammers use it like clockwork, threatening arrests, bank account freezes, and even family harm.
4. Emotional Manipulation Still Works
Rishi recalled, “Remember that woman from Ghaziabad who sent ₹3.2 lakh to some guy pretending to be an Army officer stuck at the border?”
“Dude, that story broke my heart,” Arjun said. “He played the ‘desh bhakt’ angle and the lover-boy script.”
Scammers study emotional patterns. They don’t just ask for money, they earn trust first. Sometimes weeks of conversations go into building the trap.
5. Too Many Trust Signals in the Wrong Places
“If the website looks clean, has a logo, and shows some fake testimonials, people think it’s legit,” Arjun smirked.
“Yep. Throw in a blue-tick-looking icon and they’re sold,” Rishi added.
Visual polish has replaced real due diligence. Most victims don’t check URLs, company registration numbers, or verify anything beyond the first impression.
6. Over-Reliance on ‘Google Baba’
Rishi grinned. “Another reason why people get scammed is their interest towards free services. People often search ‘Best Govt Scheme to Get Free Laptop’, and fall into phishing traps from ads.”
Search engines are helpful, but scammers run ads there, too.
When urgency meets laziness, victims don’t scroll; they click the first link and submit their data. The rest? History.
7. Blind Faith in ‘Uniforms’ and Titles
“Bro, do you remember that guy who scammed my uncle?” Arjun leaned forward, stirring his coffee with just enough intensity to show irritation.
“The fake cop?” Rishi raised an eyebrow.
“Exactly! Walked in wearing a full police uniform, showed an ID card, and said my uncle’s name was involved in an illegal transaction. Can you believe it? He even quoted a fake FIR number.”
“And your uncle believed him?”
“Without a second thought! Gave him ₹25,000 in cash just to ‘settle it off the record.’ Later, turns out, not a single cop from the local station knew about it. The guy vanished.”
Rishi sighed, “It’s crazy how just a uniform or an official-sounding title shuts down people’s common sense.”
“That’s the thing. We’re wired to trust authority. Show someone a khaki outfit or a government seal, and their suspicion dies on the spot. No one asks for a second ID, no one calls to verify.”
8. No Digital Hygiene, Still
“Password123,” Arjun said.
“Nooo,” Rishi groaned.
“But yes,” Arjun replied. “People still use that. Across bank accounts, emails, and Instagram.”
Add to that: no two-factor authentication, public Wi-Fi logins, and saving OTPs in the Notes app.
The digital version of leaving your house keys under the doormat.
9. Desperation During Crisis
During COVID, during demonetisation, and even now in job crunches, scammers find fertile ground in chaos.
“You know what’s worse than getting scammed?” Arjun asked, his voice a notch lower this time.
Rishi looked at him, curious. “What?”
“Getting scammed when you’re already at your lowest.”
Rishi nodded slowly. “Yeah… like those COVID donation scams? People were gasping for oxygen cylinders, hospital beds… and these fraudsters were making money off it.”
10. Scam Fatigue is Real
“I think people are so tired of hearing about scams, they just stop reacting altogether,” Arjun said.
They’re numb to alerts.
They think if they haven’t been hit yet, they won’t be. It’s like hearing a car alarm go off every day in your lane; you stop checking after a while.
Final Thoughts
As they left the cafe, Arjun turned and said, “ These are the major reasons why people get scammed, and you know, it’s not just about education. It’s about mindset. People need to learn how to question, not just follow blindly.”
Rishi nodded thoughtfully. “Exactly. And it’s not just about getting scammed; a lot of people choose to remain silent, thinking there’s no way out.”
“Right,” Arjun agreed. “And the worst part is, most of them have no idea how to recover their lost money. They feel trapped and powerless.”
Rishi paused, then said, “But here’s the thing. There are ways how to get scammed money back. Whether it’s filing a complaint or seeking legal assistance, you don’t have to face it alone.”
Arjun smiled. “Absolutely. If you ever find yourself in such a situation, don’t hesitate to reach out.”
So, don’t waste more time. If you have been scammed, register with us now and get complete assistance.
We’re here to guide you through the process and help you recover what’s rightfully yours. Stay informed, stay vigilant, and let’s work together to fight these scams.
