SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
Scams & Magic – The Setup or Pre-Show Work
Part 16
Understanding the Methods Used by Both Scammers and Magicians to Deceive
Psychology of Scams – A SCARS Insight
Author:
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
Article Abstract
“The Setup or Pre-Show Work” is a critical phase in both magic and scams, involving meticulous preparation to ensure the success of the performance or scheme.
In magic, this includes arranging props, preparing equipment, and engaging with the audience beforehand to set expectations and build rapport. This preparation helps create a seamless and convincing illusion, enhancing audience engagement and emotional investment.
In scams, the setup involves crafting detailed backstories, creating credible online profiles, and targeting victims based on their vulnerabilities. This groundwork establishes trust and emotional connection, making the scam more believable and effective.
Understanding the significance of the setup phase in both contexts highlights the importance of vigilance and critical thinking, whether enjoying a magic show or navigating personal and financial interactions, to safeguard against manipulation and deception.
The Setup or Pre-Show Work in Magic and Scams
The Setup or Pre-Show Work In Magic
In the context of magic, “The Setup or Pre-Show Work” involves the magician preparing the stage, props, and sometimes the audience before the actual performance begins. This preparation is crucial to ensure that the show runs smoothly and that the illusions are effective. The setup may involve arranging props in specific ways, pre-loading objects in hidden compartments, or even pre-selecting audience members for participation who may unknowingly play a role in the trick.
Preparation of Props and Equipment:
Magicians meticulously prepare their equipment to ensure that each element functions seamlessly during the performance. This might involve setting traps on the stage, hiding wires for levitation tricks, or engineering decks of cards in a specific order.
Audience Setup:
Sometimes, magicians engage with the audience before the show to prime them or set expectations. This interaction can also be used to subtly influence the audience’s choices later in the performance, such as planting ideas or using psychological forces to guide decisions.
Creating the Right Atmosphere:
The environment and ambiance are set to enhance the audience’s mood and receptiveness. Lighting, background music, and the stage setup all contribute to an atmosphere that can make the audience more susceptible to illusion and wonder.
Psychological Effects in Magic:
Increased Control: By controlling the environment and elements of the performance in advance, magicians maximize their influence over the audience’s experience, reducing the likelihood of unpredicted variables.
Enhanced Illusion: Proper setup ensures that the illusions are more convincing. When props function flawlessly, and the ambiance supports the theme of the magic, the audience is more likely to suspend disbelief.
Audience Engagement: Engaging with the audience before the show can build anticipation and rapport, making the audience more emotionally invested in the performance and thus more responsive to the magician’s cues.
The Setup or Pre-Show Work In Scams
In scams, particularly sophisticated financial or relationship scams, “The Setup or Pre-Show Work” involves scammers carefully crafting their backstory, online profiles, and scenarios to make their schemes more believable. This preparation is about creating a believable persona and scenario that will attract and convince potential victims.
Profile and Backstory Creation:
Scammers often create detailed online profiles and backstories that resonate with their target demographic. They might use stolen photos, fabricate jobs, and craft histories that make them appear trustworthy, successful, or in need.
Building Credibility:
Scammers may establish credibility by displaying badges of verification, showcasing fake testimonials, or interacting in online communities to build a reputation before they begin their scam.
Targeting and Tailoring:
Scammers choose their targets based on vulnerability factors such as loneliness, age, past scams, or financial stability. They tailor their approach based on the information available about the target to increase their chances of success.
Psychological Effects in Scams:
Trust and Credibility: The detailed preparation and persona building help establish the scammer’s credibility, making the target more likely to trust them.
Emotional Engagement: By tailoring their approach, scammers create a sense of connection and understanding, manipulating the victim’s emotions to elicit sympathy, love, or a sense of obligation.
Lowered Defenses: Effective setup can lower a victim’s defenses by aligning with their desires or needs, making them less likely to scrutinize the scammer’s motives or authenticity.
Comparison and Conclusion:
In both magic and scams, “The Setup or Pre-Show Work” is foundational to the effectiveness of the performance or scheme. In magic, the setup enhances the entertainment value and ensures the smooth execution of illusions. In scams, it manipulates perception to make the deceit more convincing and emotionally engaging.
Understanding the importance of the setup in both contexts highlights the need for critical awareness, whether enjoying a magic show or navigating online relationships. Recognizing when you might be being primed or set up can prompt a more cautious and questioning approach, safeguarding against deception and manipulation.
Continue the SCARS Institute Series on Scams & Magic
- Scams & Magic Part 1 – Understanding Financial Fraud Through The Lense Of Stage Magic Manipulation
- Scams & Magic Part 2 – How Relationship Scammers Use Techniques Similar To Magic Acts
- Scams & Magic Part 3 – The Prestige: The Ultimate Revelation
- Scams & Magic Part 4 – The Misdirection: A Key Element
- Scams & Magic Part 5 – The Backstory Setup: Crafting Believable Narratives
- Scams & Magic Part 6 – The Flourish: Adding Flair And Distraction
- Scams & Magic Part 7 – The Time Pressure: Urgency As A Tool
- Scams & Magic Part 8 – Other Stage Magic Techniques Used In Scams
- Scams & Magic Part 9 – The Setup And Anticipation
- Scams & Magic Part 10 – Patter And Rapport
- Scams & Magic Part 11 – Sleight Of Hand
- Scams & Magic Part 12 – The Misdirection Through Details
- Scams & Magic Part 13 – The Switch: Deception
- Scams & Magic Part 14 – The Controlled Reveal: Crafting Suspense
- Scams & Magic Part 15 – The Clean-Up: Final Acts
- Scams & Magic Part 16 – The Setup Or Pre-Show Work
- Scams & Magic Part 17 – The Build-Up: Crafting Suspense And Anticipation
- Scams & Magic Part 18 – The Turn: A Critical Moment
- Scams & Magic Part 19 – Forcing: Manipulating Choices
- Scams & Magic Part 20 – The Load: Strategic Placement
- Scams & Magic Part 21 – The Vanish: Disappearance Acts
- Scams & Magic Part 22 – Transformation: Shaping Realities
- Scams & Magic Part 23 – Restoration: Rebuilding
- Scams & Magic Part 24 – Stage Magic Glossary
More About Magic and Scams
- Equivocation – The Magician’s Choice – The Arts Of Manipulation
- Psychic Scams – Exploiting Scam Victims’ Cognitive Biases And Magical Thinking
- The Art Of Deception: The Fundamental Principals Of Successful Deceptions
- Paradoxical Persuasion – A Scammer Psychological Manipulation Technique
- Suggestibility – A Victim Vulnerability
More About The Psychology of Magic
- The Psychology Of Illusion: How Magicians Manipulate Your Mind And Perception | Alan Hudson
- Advanced Card Magic Techniques: The Ultimate Guide – Card Tricks
- 100 BEST Magic Tricks Revealed! (Video Tutorials) – Improve Magic
- The Magical Art of Manipulation
- Editorial: The Psychology of Magic and the Magic of Psychology – PMC (nih.gov)
- Psychology, stage magic, and demand characteristics — A.P. Grayson (apgrayson.com)
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Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- Enroll in FREE SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
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
SCARS Institute articles examine different aspects of the scam victim experience, as well as those who may have been secondary victims. This work focuses on understanding victimization through the science of victimology, including common psychological and behavioral responses. The purpose is to help victims and survivors understand why these crimes occurred, reduce shame and self-blame, strengthen recovery programs and victim opportunities, and lower the risk of future victimization.
At times, these discussions may sound uncomfortable, overwhelming, or may be mistaken for blame. They are not. Scam victims are never blamed. Our goal is to explain the mechanisms of deception and the human responses that scammers exploit, and the processes that occur after the scam ends, so victims can better understand what happened to them and why it felt convincing at the time, and what the path looks like going forward.
Articles that address the psychology, neurology, physiology, and other characteristics of scams and the victim experience recognize that all people share cognitive and emotional traits that can be manipulated under the right conditions. These characteristics are not flaws. They are normal human functions that criminals deliberately exploit. Victims typically have little awareness of these mechanisms while a scam is unfolding and a very limited ability to control them. Awareness often comes only after the harm has occurred.
By explaining these processes, these articles help victims make sense of their experiences, understand common post-scam reactions, and identify ways to protect themselves moving forward. This knowledge supports recovery by replacing confusion and self-blame with clarity, context, and self-compassion.
Additional educational material on these topics is available at ScamPsychology.org – ScamsNOW.com and other SCARS Institute websites.
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.
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