Published On: June 30th, 2023Last Updated: June 30th, 20230 Comments on Proximity Bias – Cognitive Biases1401 words7 min readTotal Views: 1013Daily Views: 1
How Scams Work - A SCARS Series on RomanceScamsNOW.comQR Code Scams
How Scams Work & Function - A SCARS Series on RomanceScamsNOW.comThe New Job Scams & Scammers
SCARS Institute's Encyclopedia of Scams™ RomanceScamsNOW.com Published Continuously for 25 Years

SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years

In 2025 the SCARS Institute will enter its 11th year of Supporting Scam Victims Worldwide. Please let us know how we can better help you? Thank you for supporting our organization. SCARS Institute © 2024 www.AgainstScams.org

More Cognitive Biases – Proximity Bias

Playing a Role In Your Vulnerability & Susceptibility To Scams

The Psychology of Scams – A SCARS Insight

Proximity Bias – Another Cognitive Bias

This article is about Proximity Bias, a part of SCARS continuing commitment to helping the victims of scams (financial fraud) to better understand the psychology of scams. In other words, why are victims vulnerable?

How Do Cognitive Biases Make People Vulnerable To Scams, Fraud, and Deception

How do cognitive biases play a role in making people vulnerable and susceptible to scams, fraud, and deception?

Cognitive biases are mental shortcuts that allow people to make quick decisions and judgments based on their past experiences and memories. These biases can be helpful in many situations, as they allow people to process large amounts of information quickly and efficiently. However, they can also make people vulnerable to scams, fraud, and deception.

One reason why cognitive biases make people vulnerable to scams is that they can lead people to make judgments that are not based on evidence or logical reasoning. For example, Confirmation Bias (a major bias that makes people vulnerable) is the tendency to seek out and interpret information that supports one’s preexisting beliefs, while ignoring or dismissing information that contradicts them. This can make people more susceptible to scams that appeal to their beliefs or biases, as they are more likely to believe the scammer’s claims without critically evaluating the evidence.

There are several ways that people can protect themselves from scams, fraud, and deception. One way is to be aware of common cognitive biases and how they can affect decision-making. This can help people to be more mindful of their thought processes and to question their own judgments.

Another way to protect oneself is to be skeptical of claims and offers that seem too good to be true. It is important to carefully evaluate the evidence and to ask questions before making a decision. This can help people to avoid falling for scams that rely on emotional appeals or incomplete information.

It can also be helpful to seek out additional sources of information and to consult with trusted friends, family members, or professionals before making a decision. This can provide a more balanced perspective and help to identify any potential red flags.

Overall, cognitive biases can make people vulnerable to scams, fraud, and deception by leading them to make judgments that are not based on evidence or logical reasoning, and by causing them to make irrational or risky decisions. However, by being aware of these biases and taking steps to protect oneself, people can reduce their risk of falling victim to these types of scams.

Proximity Bias

Proximity bias, also known as geographic bias or the proximity effect, refers to the cognitive bias that affects our perception and decision-making based on proximity or physical distance. It occurs when individuals give more importance or favor to people, objects, or events that are closer to them in physical space.

Proximity Bias is actually a tactic used by relationship scammers to persuade their victims to drop their barriers and skepticism. If victims believe the person they are talking to is local, regardless of where they are, they are much more likely to begin contact with this stranger. On the other hand, if the person online admits they are from Africa there are automatic responses that are thrown up by the prospective victim.

Of course, it all depends on the desires of the prospective victim since this will also affect how influential the proximity bias is in their decision making,

Here are a few key aspects of proximity bias:

  1. Emotional impact: Proximity bias suggests that individuals tend to feel a stronger emotional connection or attachment to people or situations that are physically closer to them. This bias can influence our perceptions, attitudes, and decision-making processes.
  2. Accessibility and availability: Proximity bias can be driven by the ease of access and availability of information or resources related to nearby individuals or events. We are more likely to be familiar with and have direct experience with people or situations that are in close proximity, which can influence our judgments and preferences. Even if a person does not know the other person, the familiarity with the place they are in or from influences the victim.
  3. Selective attention: Proximity bias can affect our attention and focus, leading us to prioritize or notice things that are physically closer to us. We may be more likely to pay attention to and remember information about people or events in our immediate environment while neglecting or underestimating those that are farther away. But it can also have the opposite effect, in that we can ignore things we think we know about a place we think we are familiar with (this brings in Confirmation Bias as well.)
  4. Perceived relevance and importance: The physical proximity of individuals or events can create a perception of relevance and importance. We may assign more significance to nearby people or situations, considering them as more impactful or meaningful compared to those that are distant.
  5. Influence on social relationships: Proximity bias can affect our social interactions and relationships. People who are geographically closer to us, such as neighbors or colleagues, may be more likely to become our friends or acquaintances simply due to their proximity. This bias can impact our social networks and the diversity of perspectives we encounter. This is in part why scammers pretend to be someone local.

Proximity Bias And Relationships

Proximity bias can play a role in relationship scams by exploiting the emotional impact and trust associated with physical proximity. Here’s how proximity bias can be manipulated in relationship scams:

  1. Trust and familiarity: Scammers may take advantage of the trust and familiarity that proximity provides. They might claim to be physically close to the victim, such as living in the same city or neighborhood, to create a sense of connection and shared experiences. By leveraging the perception of physical proximity, scammers aim to establish trust more easily.
  2. Emotional manipulation: Proximity bias can intensify emotional bonds and make individuals more susceptible to manipulation. Scammers may exploit this bias by portraying themselves as someone who is physically near the victim, generating a false sense of closeness and intimacy. They may use this emotional leverage to extract personal information, financial assistance, or engage in other fraudulent activities.
  3. Verification and credibility: Proximity bias can influence a victim’s perception of credibility and authenticity. Scammers may claim to have a mutual acquaintance or reference in the victim’s local area, further reinforcing the perception of proximity and legitimacy. This can make the victim more inclined to trust the scammer’s intentions and information without exercising due diligence.
  4. Assistance and urgency: Scammers may exploit proximity bias by posing as someone in immediate need of help. For example, they might claim to be a local resident who has encountered an emergency or financial crisis while traveling. The perceived proximity can create a sense of urgency and sympathy in the victim, making them more likely to offer assistance or financial support without thorough verification.
  5. Limited accountability: Physical distance can provide scammers with a sense of anonymity and reduced accountability. By claiming to be in close proximity to the victim, scammers may exploit the challenge of verifying their true identity and intentions. This can make it more difficult for victims to identify red flags or conduct proper investigations, as they may assume that the scammer’s proximity implies authenticity.

Watch Out

It’s crucial to remain cautious and skeptical when engaging in online relationships, especially with individuals who exploit proximity bias. Take steps to verify the identity and intentions of individuals you interact with online, regardless of their claimed proximity.

It’s important to be aware of proximity bias and its potential influence on our judgments and decision-making processes. By recognizing this bias, we can strive to make more objective and fair evaluations, considering factors beyond physical distance when assessing the relevance, importance, and value of people, events, or information.

Summary

Cognitive biases do make people more vulnerable to scams, fraud, and deception by causing them to ignore warning signs, pay more attention to information that supports their preexisting beliefs, rely on incomplete information, and anchor their decisions to easy and often incorrect information.

By being aware of these biases and making an effort to overcome them, people can be better equipped to avoid falling victim to scams and other forms of deception.

More About Cognitive Biases & Vulnerabilities

SCARS FREE Support & Recovery Program - 4 EVER FREE

Do You Need Support?
Get It Now!

SCARS provides the leading Support & Recovery program for relationship scam victims – completely FREE!

Our managed peer support groups allow victims to talk to other survivors and recover in the most experienced environment possible, for as long as they need. Recovery takes as long as it takes – we put no limits on our support!

SCARS is the most trusted support & education provider in the world. Our team is certified in trauma-informed care, grief counseling, and so much more!

To apply to join our groups visit support.AgainstScams.org

We also offer separate support groups for family & friends too.

SCARS STAR Membership

Become a
SCARS STAR™ Member

SCARS offers memberships in our STAR program, which includes many benefits for a very low annual membership fee!

SCARS STAR Membership benefits include:

  • FREE Counseling or Therapy Benefit from our partner BetterHelp.com
  • Exclusive members-only content & publications
  • Discounts on SCARS Self-Help Books Save
  • And more!

To learn more about the SCARS STAR Membership visit membership.AgainstScams.org

To become a SCARS STAR Member right now visit join.AgainstScams.org

SCARS Publishing Self-Help Recovery Books Available At shop.AgainstScams.org

Scam Victim Self-Help Do-It-Yourself Recovery Books

SCARS Printed Books For Every Scam Survivor From SCARS Publishing

Visit shop.AgainstScams.org

Each is based on our SCARS Team’s 32-plus years of experience.

SCARS Website Visitors receive an Extra 10% Discount
Use Discount Code “romanacescamsnow” at Checkout

Always Report All Scams – Anywhere In The World To:

Go to reporting.AgainstScams.org to learn how

U.S. FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/?orgcode=SCARS and SCARS at www.Anyscams.com
Visit reporting.AgainstScams.org to learn more!

-/ 30 /-

What do you think about this?
Please share your thoughts in a comment below!

Article Rating

0
(0)

Table of Contents

ARTICLE CATEGORIES

POPULAR ARTICLES

Rapid Report Scammers

SCARS-CDN-REPORT-SCAMEMRS-HERE

Visit SCARS www.Anyscam.com

Quick Reporting

  • Valid Emails Only

  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
    Valid Phone Numbers Only

Subscribe & New Item Updates

In the U.S. & Canada

U.S. & Canada Suicide Lifeline 988

U.S. & Canada Suicide Lifeline 988

RATE THIS ARTICLE?

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

As you found this post useful...

Follow us on social media!

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?

LEAVE A COMMENT?

Your comments help the SCARS Institute better understand all scam victim/survivor experiences and improve our services and processes. Thank you


Thank you for your comment. You may receive an email to follow up. We never share your data with marketers.

Recent Comments
On Other Articles

Important Information for New Scam Victims

If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org

If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines

A Note About Labeling!

We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!

A Question of Trust

At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.

Statement About Victim Blaming

Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.

These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.

Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org

Psychology Disclaimer:

All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only

The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.

While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.

Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.

If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.

Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here to go to our ScamsNOW.com website.

If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.