Addictive Personalities Easy Prey for Scammers
Joy Slagowski
Daily News-Sun
SUN CITY, Ariz. (Aug. 31, 2009) -- What would make a person like John fall for scams and continue to send payment after payment in hopes of cashing in on that one big jackpot?
Sandi Lloyd, director of behavioral health for Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center, said the compulsion could be attributed to a number of factors.
“It’s an obsession,” Lloyd said. “And we need to determine if this person we are dealing with has always been a little bit OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) in the past.”
“With OCD, they are always thinking, 'the next time, the next time’,” Lloyd said. “It’s like gambling addicts — it’s always the next hand, the next roll of the dice.”
The person who is being scammed is receiving some sort of pay off for their participation, even if it’s not financial.
“What is the pay off for the person spending the money?” Lloyd asked. “Is it feeling needed? Is it feeling wanted? Is it the feeling that someone cares?”
“A lot of people as they get older want to feel someone needs them, and if they can they will help, maybe by doing this (sending money), not only will they be getting something in return but helping someone,” Lloyd said. “They think that they can help a charity that helps people in need, and then maybe it’s not just about 'me’ but something bigger than me.”
Loneliness can play a big factor with scam participants.
