The Psychology of Cyber Fraud: Unraveling the Tactics Behind Modern-Day Scams

Abstract

In the backdrop of Digital India, where rising internet penetration has transformed financial transactions and communication, cyber fraud and online scams have emerged as widespread risks. Technology, both a friend and a foe, facilitates smooth digital exchanges and financial inclusion, but it also provides cybercriminals with advanced tools to exploit human weaknesses. The Victim-Perpetrator Interaction Model presented here offers a comprehensive understanding of cybercrime by analyzing the interactions among victim vulnerabilities, perpetrator tactics, and communication channels that enable deception. Unlike earlier research that examined either victim susceptibility or perpetrator psychology in isolation, this model integrates both perspectives to explain scam compliance. The study also highlights the role of psychological tricks, cognitive biases, and emotional manipulation in cybercrime. By addressing a gap in literature, this research enhances awareness of cyber threats. Future empirical testing of this model can improve scam detection techniques and develop more effective interventions to protect individuals from online deception.