Ali Akhai, Daraz Group Head of Customer Experience & Insights
Group Head of Customer Experience & Insights at Daraz Group while conducting a training session on e-commerce scams, at Karachi Press Club, said scammers aren’t just technical hackers; they are behavioral hackers. They use psychological triggers to bypass your logical system of thinking and force a reaction from your impulsive system of brain.
He articulated:
- The “Big Four” Triggers
Urgency & Pressure: “Your account will be blocked in 10 minutes!” By creating a ticking clock, scammers force you to act before you can think or verify.
Authority Bias: We are hardwired to obey titles. Scammers impersonate bank officials, FIA officers, or “Group Heads” to make you feel like you are answering to power.
Social Proof: “Thousands in Karachi are already earning from this app.” We look to others for cues on how to behave. Fake reviews and screenshots of “earnings” create a false sense of safety.
Scarcity (FOMO): “Only 2 slots left for this investment.” This triggers the Fear Of Missing Out, making a suspicious offer feel like a rare opportunity.
- Cognitive Blind Spots
Optimism Bias: Most people think, “I’m too smart to be scammed.” This overconfidence is exactly what scammers count on—it makes you less likely to double-check details.
The Halo Effect: If a website looks professional (clean logos, no typos) or a person sounds polite and charming, we subconsciously assume they are trustworthy.
Sunk Cost Fallacy: In “Pig Butchering” scams (long-term investment fraud), once you’ve put in a little money, your brain would rather “invest more” to save the original amount than admit you were tricked.