Social engineering, essentially premeditated manipulation of people for a desired outcome, is commonly used to obtain confidential information by con artists aka frauds aka scammers. Sure we all know that these people know how to trigger you emotionally but three days ago I found out exactly HOW convincing scammers can be…

It began with a call from the IRS- the legitimate IRS Sacramento phone number.

Scammer: “Is this Nan Farley?”

Me: “Yes.”

Scammer:”Nan Farley, you are under criminal investigation, please hold while I transfer you to the officer in charge of your case…”

45 second hold to get my blood racing.

45 second hold to enact fight or flight. Too scared to fight, I’m now preparing to find the easiest way out.

Scammer #2: “Hi, Nan Farley, this is IRS Officer Justin Thomas. You are facing criminal charges for evading taxes on your education as per California tax code. If you do not take action to remedy this situation, you will be taken into custody, charged, will not receive any refunds, and your degree and credit score may be at risk. We have emailed you at your email *say my email* monthly for the past year. Did you commit this crime on purpose?”

Me: “Obviously not.”

Scammer #2:  “Do you understand the severity of the situation?”

Me: “Yes.”

Scammer #2: “Okay, if you did not purposefully withhold your money from the state of California and understand the ramifications if you continue to do so, are you prepared to take the actions necessary to remedy this situation?”

Me: “Obviously yes.”

Scammer #2: “Okay. This requires IMMEDIATE ACTION. I will now put you on the phone with the FBI officer who will explain the next steps.”

Pause story.

This is such classic speech and debate logic where you get the opponent to agree with you by setting foundational principles that they concede. Then, when the principles compound (like IMMEDIATE ACTION), the opponent has no choice but to agree.

Resume story.

Call dropped, new phone call from the legitimate FBI Sacramento phone number.

Scammer  #3: “Hi Nan Farley. This is FBI Agent So-and-So. Here is what you must do: Right now you need to get in your car and go to purchase coupons to pay the IRS. You will take them to the nearest IRS Office and pay the outstanding amount. That amount is *amount $100 within my credit limit*. However, since you did not commit these acts intentionally and this is your first offense you will be refunded *the majority*. You will then speak with an agent about how to avoid incidents like this in the future. Do you understand what you must do?”

Me: “Yes.”

Scammer #3: More detailed information about checking with my bank that I have enough, asking me personal information- but somehow them guessing within $100 of my available credit limit, and instructing me to go to Target to get the “IRS Coupons”.

I drive to Target (8 mins away).

Now I bet you’re thinking WHAT A SUCKER!

To a certain extent yes. By now I should’ve lawyered up. By now I should’ve hung up multiple times… but on the ACTUAL phone number of the IRS and FBI? On 3 different, very professional people? Better yet, when I get to Target, the manager of the store immediately instructs me to hang up the phone saying she has seen 4 other Berkeley students THAT WEEK.

So I’m running to the police station as they continue to call me non-stop and then…

I get a call from “Mom” in my phone.

Scammer #4 (female this time): “Hi Nan, this is Police Officer So-and-So. I have your mom here in custody.”

Me: “Can I talk to her?”

Scammer #4: “No. You understood that this was a matter of California law and if you are not going to pay the state we have to take you and anyone you depend on into custody.”

Me: “Okay well I’m headed to the police station now.”

I text my mom “MOM CALL ME”; she calls and goes, “Hey what’s up?”

So now I know the IRS will only contact you by mail.

More importantly, I learned a tough psychological lesson to question authority and see the green colored film of greed that many people have as a permanent filter on their vision. I still don’t think people are inherently bad, but social engineering is no doubt a real science where people can be PHYSICALLY hijacked if you EMOTIONALLY hijack them effectively.

#hobbeslockeanddropit

Is #blackmirror real life yet?

-N. Knight ShyamaNan