The 6 levers
- Urgency — 'in the next 24 hours', 'right now', 'before it's too late'
- Authority — claims to be IRS, police, CEO, support
- Scarcity — 'last spot', 'limited time'
- Reciprocity — they 'helped' you so you owe them
- Social proof — 'everyone in the group did it'
- Isolation — 'don't tell anyone', 'this is private'
The defense
Slow it down. Real opportunities and real emergencies survive a 24-hour pause and a second opinion. Scams do not.