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Psychological Processes of Telecommunications Fraud: Development of a Three-Stage Framework and Cross-Sectional
Yujie Huang1, Jun Gao2,3, Yuhong Zhou1
1Psychological Research and Consultation Center, Southwest Jiaotong University, No. 999, Xi'an Road, Pidu District, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611756, China, 86 17383011768.
Journal of Medical Internet Research
|August 13, 2026
Summary
Telecommunications fraud progresses through stages of priming, manipulation, and loss of control. Lower truth-seeking and higher gullibility are linked to victimization, suggesting stage-sensitive prevention strategies are needed.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Criminology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Telecommunications fraud inflicts significant financial and psychological distress.
- Understanding the psychological progression from trust to victimization is crucial but remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a stage-based psychological framework for telecommunications fraud.
- To quantitatively examine cross-sectional associations with fraud victimization.
Main Methods:
- Grounded-theory analysis of interviews with 71 fraud victims (Study 1).
- Analysis of survey data from 4722 university students, including 409 fraud victims (Study 2).
- Statistical analyses including t-tests, logistic regression, and PROCESS models to identify correlates of victimization.
Main Results:
- A 3-stage framework emerged: Credulity Priming, Affective Manipulation, and Behavioral Dyscontrol.
- Victims exhibited lower truth-seeking/cognitive maturity and higher gullibility, emotion regulation difficulties, and poorer self-control (BSCS scores).
- Higher gullibility and lower truth-seeking were significantly associated with increased odds of victimization.
Conclusions:
- Retrospective narratives support a 3-stage model of telecommunications fraud.
- Cross-sectional data link lower truth-seeking and higher gullibility to victimization.
- Findings suggest the need for prospective studies and stage-sensitive prevention strategies.
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