🚫 Understanding Scams — Chapter 5 — Authority / Government Scams
🚫 Authority / Government Scams (Fear and authority never change — only the script does) 🚫 Authority Scams Are Not About Ignorance Most people assume authority scams work because victims are uninformed or gullible. That assumption is incorrect. Authority and government scams succeed because the victim is trying to do the right thing. These scams target compliance, responsibility, and respect for rules — not recklessness. The victim is not chasing opportunity. They are responding to perceived obligation. A notice arrives. A warning is issued. A consequence is implied. From that moment, fear replaces curiosity. The scam does not begin with lies alone. It begins with authority. The Core Hook: Fear + Authority Authority scams rely on a powerful psychological pairing. Fear creates urgency. Authority removes permission to question. When these two forces combine, decision-making collapses into obedience. The victim does not ask, “Is this real?” They ask, “What do I need to do to make...