In the modern digital space, phone scammers develop extremely sophisticated psychological manipulation strategies that threaten citizens' financial security. Criminal psychologist Daniel Genkov reveals the mechanisms behind these criminal schemes in an exclusive interview.
According to expert analysis, the most vulnerable to such manipulations are elderly people over 65 years old who live alone and have limited knowledge of internet technologies. Characteristic of this group is the presence of cognitive impairments that further hinder their critical thinking.
Surprisingly, criminals are expanding their target group to young people between 20 and 30 years old. Genkov emphasizes the exceptional importance of a critical attitude towards information on social networks and over the phone.
The main techniques of scammers include presenting themselves as authoritative figures - police officers, government officials, or banking experts. They skillfully use psychological manipulation techniques, such as creating an artificial emergency situation with a fabricated accident or health problem.
The psychological profile of the criminals reveals a lack of empathy and the presence of chronic personality disorders. They possess an exceptional ability to recognize the emotional state of their potential victims through intonation, voice, and non-verbal signals.
The expert recommends exercising maximum caution during suspicious calls. Key defense strategies include: asking specific questions that only close people can answer, maintaining composure, and immediately reporting to the police at the slightest suspicion.
The Bulgarian National Bank and the Anti-Money Laundering Agency explicitly warn citizens not to provide personal data over the phone and to be extremely vigilant towards such fraud attempts.
Genkov concludes that although criminals demonstrate exceptional manipulative skills, they are highly vulnerable during direct confrontation and fear legal consequences.