Our tendency to comply with figures of authority — exploited by scammers posing as bosses, banks, or officials.
People are wired to defer to authority, and scammers weaponize this by impersonating executives, government agencies, HR, or law enforcement. The borrowed authority discourages questioning and speeds compliance.
Authority claimed over email or phone is trivially faked; verify the person through official channels before acting.
Frequently asked questions
How do I push back on someone claiming to be an authority?
Politely insist on verifying through official channels. A real official, boss, or agency won't object to you calling back on a number you look up yourself; a scammer will resist it.