Cybercriminals Exploit Positive Emotions
Cybercriminals now exploit not only fear and urgency, but also positive emotions like empathy, curiosity, and the desire to help.
Emotional manipulation is a common tactic in social engineering, using both negative and positive emotions to exploit victims.
Cybercriminals create fake fundraisers or charities involving children, the elderly, or natural disasters to trigger immediate compassionate responses.
- They use fake testimonials to encourage participation.
- Deepfake videos or AI-generated content show the supposed impact of their charitable work.
Author's summary: Cybercriminals exploit positive emotions like empathy and curiosity.