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30 Normalized Scams We Fall For Daily Without Even Realizing It
Some things are so normal in our society that we don’t even think about it, just accept it the way it is. But the minute you start thinking about it, you realize how questionable it is. And that if people wouldn’t have normalized such a thing, we definitely would understand it to be a scam.
Today, let’s take a look at some money-related things that would be considered scams if society hadn’t normalized them.
More info: Reddit
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#1
Insurance. You give them money month after month, year after year, and then when it comes time where you need to use it they will try their absolute hardest to give you as little as possible
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Bored Panda reached out to sociologist Deborah Lupton. Check out her blog!
We asked her what factors contribute to social acceptance of morally questionable things. She answered that it is all due to social norms and their changeability. “Behaviors once considered normal became socially repugnant and people were expected to adhere to these new norms to be considered socially acceptable. It is often the wealthy and powerful who influence others (for good or for worse).”
So, we can guess that it’s only a matter of time before we start to question certain financial and social norms of today. And then they will change into something else.
#4
Subscription services in vehicles. Pay monthly/yearly for heated seats or to unlock performance mode. I don't get how people support this business practice.
#5
I have to pay a 3% convenience fee to pay my rent online… I literally have to pay to pay my rent, it’s disgraceful.
#6
Landlords buy up property they don’t need so they can sell it back at an extreme markup as rent to people who actually do need it. With almost any other commodity it would be called scalping, and be regarded as the scam that it is, but with a commodity so material we literally call it “real estate”, we just act like this is how things are supposed to be.
We also asked her how socially accepted morally questionable things reflect the cultural values and society itself. The sociologist replied that “What is considered socially acceptable and 'normal' in any society at any historical period is reflective of broader social issues and expectations, as well as those who are in power as leaders of moral standards at the time."
She added that in societies where religious values are no longer as strong, it usually takes over. “It means that the wealthy and those who control the reins of power in government are the moral authorities.” And well, talking about wealth really does match our topic today.
Moving on to actual financial scams, do you know how to identify one? Well, these tips can come in handy when you encounter something you guess might be a financial scam. Watch out for:
- Fake ads that claim that a celebrity recommends it to make big money.
- An online contact you have never met in person talking about investing.
- Ads, websites, or even emails with testimonials and over-the-top promises.
- High-pressure tactics that are meant to rush you to act so you don't 'miss out'.
- Being asked to promote the scheme to friends and family to earn a commission.
So, take these tips and your common sense into consideration and stay safe from financial scams!
#10
Charging subscription fees to access software on hardware you already own. "*Our customers pay for our over priced goods, but they appear to still have money. How can we make them buy the product every month without us having to pay to make or ship any new materials*!?"
#12
buying schoolbooks. publishers know you have literally no choice but to buy it and jack up the price in many cases. And some teachers get a cut on those sales which is insanely scummy but somehow tolerated in many schools. I’ve had classes where you had to pay 150$ for a book we didn’t even use once during the class, but you literally couldn’t do any of the online evaluations unless you bought it. It’s just a way for some company to make an easy 500-600 dollars or more off the back of students.
#19
Hospitals taking additional fees on so you have to constantly ask them to itemize it so they remove the bogus add one
#22
Every type of monthly bill going up year-on-year above inflation unless you change providers every year.
#23
The lottery Almost all other forms of gambling at least give you a reasonable chance of winning something. The lottery is straight up robbing the stupid
#25
Voting. We don't pick them they pick us. They draw the lines to better the chances for they're demographic. Gerrymandering it's a thing
#28
Light bulbs. Apparently when first invented they lasted too long and so manufacturers had to reduce their longevity to make them commercially viable. Scam.
#29
Interest rates in banking, or just banking in general. They literally use your money to lend other people money so they can charge then interest, making them money with your money. What's worse is that in times of crisis they can just declare bankruptcy and that's it, they don't owe you anything and you're s**t outta luck, even if they lost literally all your life savings. Also they force you to get a credit card if you want to apply for a loan, banking is just scams on top of scams.
#30
>I'll start: paying for water You're not paying for water, per se. You're paying for *treated* water. Tap water is filtered, purified, and tested. Bottled water is ... bottled. Either way, some work has been done to it, and that is the value-added portion of the water which you're paying for. You are welcome to go down to the lake and drink out of it for free. Good luck with that, by the way.
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