The psychology of getting scammed

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Why we hate being scammed By Mandy Oaklander Senior Health Editor These days, scams seem to lurk around every corner—and in every spam message in your inbox. Nobody likes falling for them. But our aversion to feeling cheated is so deeply engrained that it makes us less likely to trust people, which can come at a cost to our health and wellness, writes Tess Wilkinson-Ryan, author of Fool Proof: How Fear of Playing the Sucker Shapes Ourselves and the Social Order―and What We Can Do About It, in a new piece for TIME. Here are three ways to keep your skepticism healthy and not harmful: Let the right ones in. Refusing to trust real people can be a recipe for isolation. “It’s one thing to refuse to click on a sketchy email, but another to refuse a helping hand, a leap of faith, or a promising investment,” Wilkinson-Ryan writes. Don’t let being careful stand in the way of being charitable. Helping others can be as good for the giver as the receiver. But people’s distaste for scams makes them think twice about financial generosity—even if charitability is part of their moral compass. Remember, cooperation can be a good thing. “People afraid of playing the fool will stay away from compromises and collaborations that they actually value,” Wilkinson-Ryan writes. READ MORE   Share the story

What else to read Pet Food Makers Think Beyond Animal Meat By Coco Liu / Bloomberg As concerns grow about the climate impact of meat, startups look to make more dog and cat foods that are plant-based, made from insects, or lab-grown. Read More » How to Take Your Voice Seriously By Samara Bay "What does it take for us to celebrate that vast diversity of sound, rather than judge it?" asks Samara Bay. Read More » Why Do You Get Sleepy After Eating? These Are the Top Theories By Markham Heid Researchers have turned up evidence of 'postprandial sleepiness,' also known as a food coma, in insects, snakes, worms and rats. (Originally published in 2019.) Read More » Can Cannabis Help Your Gut? By Stacey Colino It's not a panacea for gastrointestinal disorders, but it eases some patients' symptoms. (Originally published in 2021.) Read More » 5 Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp As You Age By Matt Fuchs An aging mind isn't a weak one. (Originally published in 2021.) Read More »

ONE LAST STORY An avalanche of false 911 calls The bathetic TV advertisements for the Apple Watch feature that dials 911 if it feels its wearer is in a physically-threatening accident make it feel like an inherent public health good and, perhaps, an essential personal-health device. But, as the New York Times reports, the watches are overloading local emergency responders in skiing communities with false “car crash” notifications. “Apple needs to put in their own call center if this is a feature they want,” says Trina Dummer, interim director of emergency services for Summit County in Colorado. Read More »

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