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Can You Spot a Scam? Measuring and Improving Scam Identification Ability

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Listed:
  • Elif Kubilayⓡ
  • Eva Raiberⓡ
  • Lisa Spantigⓡ
  • Jana Cahlíkováⓡ
  • Lucy Kaariaⓡ
  • Lisa Spantig

Abstract

The recent expansion of digital financial products leads to severe consumer protection issues such as fraud and scams. As these potentially decrease trust in digital services, especially in developing countries, avoiding victimization has become an important policy objective. In an online experiment, we first investigate how well individuals in Kenya identify phone scams using a novel measure of scam identification ability. We then test the effectiveness of scam education, a commonly used approach by banks and institutions for fraud and scam prevention. We find that common tips on how to spot scams do not significantly improve individuals’ scam identification ability, i.e., the distinction of scams from genuine messages. This null effect is driven by an increase in correctly identified scams and a decrease in correctly identified genuine messages. We interpret this as an increase in caution. In addition, we find suggestive evidence that genuine messages which contain scam-like features are more likely to be misclassified, highlighting the importance of a careful design of official communication.

Suggested Citation

  • Elif Kubilayⓡ & Eva Raiberⓡ & Lisa Spantigⓡ & Jana Cahlíkováⓡ & Lucy Kaariaⓡ & Lisa Spantig, 2023. "Can You Spot a Scam? Measuring and Improving Scam Identification Ability," CESifo Working Paper Series 10239, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_10239
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Seth Garz & Xavier Gine & Dean Karlan & Rafe Mazer & Caitlin Sanford & Jonathan Zinman, 2021. "Consumer Protection for Financial Inclusion in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Bridging Regulator and Academic Perspectives," Annual Review of Financial Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 13(1), pages 219-246, November.
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    8. Burke, Jeremy & Kieffer, Christine & Mottola, Gary & Perez-Arce, Francisco, 2022. "Can educational interventions reduce susceptibility to financial fraud?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 250-266.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elif Kubilay & Eva Raiber & Lisa Spantig & Jana Cahlíková & Lucy Kaaria, 2023. "Financial fraud in developing countries: Common scam detection tips do not help distinguish scam from non-scam messages," ECONtribute Policy Brief Series 056, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    2. Michael King & Daniel Putman & Shane Byrne & Chaning Jang, 2024. "Navigating the Rise in Non-Institutional Digital Fraud: An Experiment with Micro Enterprises in Nigeria," Trinity Economics Papers tep1124, Trinity College Dublin, Department of Economics, revised Jan 2025.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    consumer protection; consumer fraud; digital financial services; scam susceptibility; scam education; Kenya;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • D18 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Protection
    • G53 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Financial Literacy
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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