Understanding and Fighting Scams: Media, Language, Appeals and Effects

Shuhua Zhou; Xiao Fan Liu; Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah; Simon Harrison; Xinzhi Zhang; Shanshan Zhen; Dannii Yeung; Janet Hui-wen Hsiao; Ray LC; Antoni B. Chan; Xiaohui Wang; Crystal Li Jiang; Fen Lin; Jixing Li; Andus Wing-Kuen Wong; Leanne Lai-Hang Chan; Bert George; Ping Li

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-76821-7_27

Understanding and Fighting Scams: Media, Language, Appeals and Effects

Shuhua Zhou, Xiao Fan Liu, Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah^*, Simon Harrison, Xinzhi Zhang, Shanshan Zhen, Dannii Yeung, Janet Hui-wen Hsiao, Ray LC, Antoni B. Chan, Xiaohui Wang, Crystal Li Jiang, Fen Lin, Jixing Li, Andus Wing-Kuen Wong, Leanne Lai-Hang Chan, Bert George, Ping Li

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Scams are fraudulent activities aiming to deceive individuals into relinquishing money, property, or rights, and they have proliferated in the context of widespread misinformation and disinformation. In this paper, we propose strategies and a research plan to address key questions about the exploitation of new communication technologies by scammers, the prevalence and nature of different scam types, and the language characteristics and appeals used in scamming content. We aim to develop a comprehensive taxonomy of scams and identify factors that contribute to their persuasiveness. Additionally, we propose the use of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, physiological measures, and brain mapping, to detect, investigate, and combat scams. The findings will inform the creation of educational resources and interventions, including databases, short videos, an online repository for crowdsourcing scam cases, community training programs, and online courses aimed at improving scam detection and prevention. By leveraging interdisciplinary expertise, this study seeks to develop a multi-faceted approach to mitigate the impact of scams and foster a more informed and resilient public.

© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025

Original language	English
Title of host publication	HCI International 2024 – Late Breaking Papers
Subtitle of host publication	26th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2024, Proceedings, Part VII
Editors	Aaron Marcus, Elizabeth Rosenzweig, Marcelo M. Soares, Pei-Luen Patrick Rau, Abbas Moallem
Publisher	Springer, Cham
Pages	392-408
Edition	1
ISBN (Electronic)	978-3-031-76821-7
ISBN (Print)	978-3-031-76820-0
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76821-7_27
Publication status	Published - 2024
Event	26th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (HCII 2024) - Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington, United States Duration: 29 Jun 2024 → 4 Jul 2024 https://2024.hci.international/index.html https://2024.hci.international/about.html

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science
Publisher	Springer
Volume	15380
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Conference

Conference	26th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (HCII 2024)
Abbreviated title	HCI International 2024
Country/Territory	United States
City	Washington
Period	29/06/24 → 4/07/24
Internet address	https://2024.hci.international/index.html https://2024.hci.international/about.html

Bibliographical note

Information for this record is supplemented by the author(s) concerned.

Research Keywords

Scams
Media
Language
Appeals
Affordances
Taxonomy
Neural Correlates
Physiological Measures

Access Output

10.1007/978-3-031-76821-7_27

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Zhou, S., Liu, X. F., Nah, F. F.-H., Harrison, S., Zhang, X., Zhen, S., Yeung, D., Hsiao, J. H., LC, R., Chan, A. B., Wang, X., Jiang, C. L., Lin, F., Li, J., Wong, A. W.-K., Chan, L. L.-H., George, B., & Li, P. (2024). Understanding and Fighting Scams: Media, Language, Appeals and Effects. In A. Marcus, E. Rosenzweig, M. M. Soares, P.-L. P. Rau, & A. Moallem (Eds.), HCI International 2024 – Late Breaking Papers: 26th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2024, Proceedings, Part VII (1 ed., pp. 392-408). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 15380). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76821-7_27

Zhou, Shuhua ; Liu, Xiao Fan ; Nah, Fiona Fui-Hoon et al. / Understanding and Fighting Scams : Media, Language, Appeals and Effects. HCI International 2024 – Late Breaking Papers: 26th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2024, Proceedings, Part VII. editor / Aaron Marcus ; Elizabeth Rosenzweig ; Marcelo M. Soares ; Pei-Luen Patrick Rau ; Abbas Moallem. 1. ed. Springer, Cham, 2024. pp. 392-408 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science).

@inproceedings{8353c7045e4a476f8e8a9d80f28207b5,

title = "Understanding and Fighting Scams: Media, Language, Appeals and Effects",

abstract = "Scams are fraudulent activities aiming to deceive individuals into relinquishing money, property, or rights, and they have proliferated in the context of widespread misinformation and disinformation. In this paper, we propose strategies and a research plan to address key questions about the exploitation of new communication technologies by scammers, the prevalence and nature of different scam types, and the language characteristics and appeals used in scamming content. We aim to develop a comprehensive taxonomy of scams and identify factors that contribute to their persuasiveness. Additionally, we propose the use of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, physiological measures, and brain mapping, to detect, investigate, and combat scams. The findings will inform the creation of educational resources and interventions, including databases, short videos, an online repository for crowdsourcing scam cases, community training programs, and online courses aimed at improving scam detection and prevention. By leveraging interdisciplinary expertise, this study seeks to develop a multi-faceted approach to mitigate the impact of scams and foster a more informed and resilient public.{\textcopyright} The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025",

keywords = "Scams, Media, Language, Appeals, Affordances, Taxonomy, Neural Correlates, Physiological Measures",

author = "Shuhua Zhou and Liu, {Xiao Fan} and Nah, {Fiona Fui-Hoon} and Simon Harrison and Xinzhi Zhang and Shanshan Zhen and Dannii Yeung and Hsiao, {Janet Hui-wen} and Ray LC and Chan, {Antoni B.} and Xiaohui Wang and Jiang, {Crystal Li} and Fen Lin and Jixing Li and Wong, {Andus Wing-Kuen} and Chan, {Leanne Lai-Hang} and Bert George and Ping Li",

note = "Information for this record is supplemented by the author(s) concerned.; 26th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (HCII 2024), HCI International 2024 ; Conference date: 29-06-2024 Through 04-07-2024",

year = "2024",

doi = "10.1007/978-3-031-76821-7_27",

language = "English",

isbn = "978-3-031-76820-0",

series = "Lecture Notes in Computer Science",

publisher = "Springer, Cham",

pages = "392--408",

editor = "Aaron Marcus and Elizabeth Rosenzweig and Soares, {Marcelo M.} and Rau, {Pei-Luen Patrick} and Abbas Moallem",

booktitle = "HCI International 2024 – Late Breaking Papers",

edition = "1",

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Zhou, S , Liu, XF , Nah, FF-H , Harrison, S , Zhang, X , Zhen, S , Yeung, D, Hsiao, JH, LC, R , Chan, AB , Wang, X , Jiang, CL , Lin, F , Li, J , Wong, AW-K , Chan, LL-H , George, B & Li, P 2024, Understanding and Fighting Scams: Media, Language, Appeals and Effects. in A Marcus, E Rosenzweig, MM Soares, P-LP Rau & A Moallem (eds), HCI International 2024 – Late Breaking Papers: 26th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2024, Proceedings, Part VII. 1 edn, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 15380, Springer, Cham, pp. 392-408, 26th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (HCII 2024), Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 29/06/24. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76821-7_27

Understanding and Fighting Scams: Media, Language, Appeals and Effects. / Zhou, Shuhua ; Liu, Xiao Fan ; Nah, Fiona Fui-Hoon et al.
HCI International 2024 – Late Breaking Papers: 26th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2024, Proceedings, Part VII. ed. / Aaron Marcus; Elizabeth Rosenzweig; Marcelo M. Soares; Pei-Luen Patrick Rau; Abbas Moallem. 1. ed. Springer, Cham, 2024. p. 392-408 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 15380).

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Understanding and Fighting Scams

T2 - 26th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (HCII 2024)

AU - Zhou, Shuhua

AU - Liu, Xiao Fan

AU - Nah, Fiona Fui-Hoon

AU - Harrison, Simon

AU - Zhang, Xinzhi

AU - Zhen, Shanshan

AU - Yeung, Dannii

AU - Hsiao, Janet Hui-wen

AU - LC, Ray

AU - Chan, Antoni B.

AU - Wang, Xiaohui

AU - Jiang, Crystal Li

AU - Lin, Fen

AU - Li, Jixing

AU - Wong, Andus Wing-Kuen

AU - Chan, Leanne Lai-Hang

AU - George, Bert

AU - Li, Ping

N1 - Information for this record is supplemented by the author(s) concerned.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Scams are fraudulent activities aiming to deceive individuals into relinquishing money, property, or rights, and they have proliferated in the context of widespread misinformation and disinformation. In this paper, we propose strategies and a research plan to address key questions about the exploitation of new communication technologies by scammers, the prevalence and nature of different scam types, and the language characteristics and appeals used in scamming content. We aim to develop a comprehensive taxonomy of scams and identify factors that contribute to their persuasiveness. Additionally, we propose the use of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, physiological measures, and brain mapping, to detect, investigate, and combat scams. The findings will inform the creation of educational resources and interventions, including databases, short videos, an online repository for crowdsourcing scam cases, community training programs, and online courses aimed at improving scam detection and prevention. By leveraging interdisciplinary expertise, this study seeks to develop a multi-faceted approach to mitigate the impact of scams and foster a more informed and resilient public.© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025

AB - Scams are fraudulent activities aiming to deceive individuals into relinquishing money, property, or rights, and they have proliferated in the context of widespread misinformation and disinformation. In this paper, we propose strategies and a research plan to address key questions about the exploitation of new communication technologies by scammers, the prevalence and nature of different scam types, and the language characteristics and appeals used in scamming content. We aim to develop a comprehensive taxonomy of scams and identify factors that contribute to their persuasiveness. Additionally, we propose the use of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, physiological measures, and brain mapping, to detect, investigate, and combat scams. The findings will inform the creation of educational resources and interventions, including databases, short videos, an online repository for crowdsourcing scam cases, community training programs, and online courses aimed at improving scam detection and prevention. By leveraging interdisciplinary expertise, this study seeks to develop a multi-faceted approach to mitigate the impact of scams and foster a more informed and resilient public.© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025

KW - Scams

KW - Media

KW - Language

KW - Appeals

KW - Affordances

KW - Taxonomy

KW - Neural Correlates

KW - Physiological Measures

UR - https://2024.hci.international/wednesday

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-031-76821-7_27

DO - 10.1007/978-3-031-76821-7_27

M3 - RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)

SN - 978-3-031-76820-0

T3 - Lecture Notes in Computer Science

SP - 392

EP - 408

BT - HCI International 2024 – Late Breaking Papers

A2 - Marcus, Aaron

A2 - Rosenzweig, Elizabeth

A2 - Soares, Marcelo M.

A2 - Rau, Pei-Luen Patrick

A2 - Moallem, Abbas

PB - Springer, Cham

Y2 - 29 June 2024 through 4 July 2024

ER -

Zhou S , Liu XF , Nah FFH , Harrison S , Zhang X , Zhen S et al. Understanding and Fighting Scams: Media, Language, Appeals and Effects. In Marcus A, Rosenzweig E, Soares MM, Rau PLP, Moallem A, editors, HCI International 2024 – Late Breaking Papers: 26th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2024, Proceedings, Part VII. 1 ed. Springer, Cham. 2024. p. 392-408. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science). Epub 2024 Dec 17. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-76821-7_27

Understanding and Fighting Scams: Media, Language, Appeals and Effects

Abstract

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Conference

Bibliographical note

Research Keywords

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