A psychologist explained the tricks scammers use to hypnotize their victims.

      December 24, 2025 12:51 Society Fraudsters use various psychological techniques to distract a person’s attention or even put them into a trance-like state. They may resort not only to intimidation but also to special ways of constructing phrases.

      Clinical psychologist Valentin Denisov-Melnikov told 360.ru that perpetrators try to create a particular state in their victim: as if the person is facing something unusual or frightening. Often fraudsters pose as representatives of security services to increase trust.

      "Suggestive, hypnotic speech, particular construction of phrases — all this affects a person. The right phrasing of a question increases the likelihood of the desired answer," the specialist notes.

      Voice timbre also plays an important role. If a person speaks calmly, confidently and pauses, their words seem more significant and weighty. If phrases that provoke fear or anxiety are added to that, the victim’s attention narrows, critical thinking decreases, and they become more compliant.

      Another common technique is to ask questions that are easier to answer affirmatively. Denisov-Melnikov explained that when a person has already answered "yes" five times, it becomes much harder to answer "no" on the sixth occasion. Such techniques significantly increase the likelihood that the victim will answer automatically, especially if they have been reassured beforehand that the conversation is about something minor, for example about the intercom or utility meters.

      Scammers can to some extent hypnotize a victim, especially if the person is highly suggestible and has a low level of critical thinking. The share of people susceptible to such techniques can reach 20–30%.

      The psychologist notes that victims of scammers are most often elderly people or those who lack education, but no one is immune to fraud.

      Swindlers often try to hurry the interlocutor into making a decision and intimidate them by claiming that the next opportunity will be missed.

      "Scammers always say that you must act quickly. When time limits are imposed, it’s a technique to put a person into a certain state," the specialist adds.

      Denisov-Melnikov advises not to engage in conversation with scammers, as their methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has a Telegram channel. Subscribe to stay informed about the main events, exclusive materials and operational information. Copyright © 1999–2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain 18+ materials.