Phishing by someone pretending to be a celebrity is becoming increasingly common. It is also a phenomenon in the Netherlands. Sophie van der Zee, Assistant Professor of Behavioural Economics at Erasmus School of Economics, responds.
Van der Zee compares this method of phishing to marketing tricks. In marketing, celebrities are also often used, making people feel more quickly drawn to make purchases. Internet scammers create a different world, in which they can often capitalise precisely on any doubts people may have. This makes the story more and more believable.
Sometimes, behind internet fraud lies organised crime, van der Zee indicated. Those organisations push hard for a twisted truth. With the advent of AI and other technology, the truth can also be increasingly distorted.
Victims often feel shame, especially after dating fraud. Not only have they been cheated financially, but often emotional damage is left behind as trust in relationships is damaged. Many people think that this cannot happen to them, but van der Zee warns that the influencing tactics are often so good that it can happen to everyone.
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You can download the full article of NH Dagblad, 18 January 2025, above.
