Fraudsters on online marketplaces usually act for a few main reasons:
Most scams aim to get money fast, for example through fake sales, fraudulent investment offers, or identity theft.
Scammers take advantage of empathy, fear, or urgency. This often happens with romance scams or fake “emergency” situations designed to extract money.
The internet allows anonymity and cross-border activity, making detection and enforcement difficult. Many feel protected and continue their scams.
Some fraudsters enjoy deceiving others and feel superior when they “succeed” in their scam.
In some cases, people turn to fraud out of necessity or poverty. Organized networks often exploit these individuals to run scams.
Within organized groups, scamming becomes normalized and even encouraged, creating a cycle where everyone imitates each other.
In summary: understanding these motivations can help you stay vigilant and spot scams more easily on online marketplaces.
