Well, a very common element is the deception of identity. Scammers pretend to be someone they are not, like IT departments or lottery companies. Also, the use of fear or greed plays a big role. People are either scared of losing something (like in the case of the 'security threat' email) or are greedy for something (like the lottery 'winnings'). This makes them more likely to fall for the phishing trap. And in most cases, there is a link or attachment that is the vehicle for the malicious intent.
One common element is the false sense of urgency. In many phish horror stories, like the one where the business owner was tricked, the emails or messages create a sense of immediate need to act, making people less likely to think carefully. Another element is the appearance of legitimacy. The scammers often make their emails or websites look like they are from a trusted source, such as a bank or a well - known company.
Sure. One phish horror story is about a small business owner. He received an email that looked like it was from his bank, asking him to update his account information urgently. Without much thought, he clicked the link and entered all his details. Soon after, all the money in his business account was drained. The scammers used the information to transfer the funds out, leaving him in a financial mess.
Isolation. Often, in IT horror stories, the characters are isolated. For example, a lone system administrator might be the only one in the server room when something strange starts to happen with the servers. Another common element is the loss of control. The technology that is supposed to be under human control suddenly starts acting on its own, like a self - driving car going berserk in an IT - related horror scenario.
Horror stories often feature a protagonist who is in over their head. They might start out as an ordinary person, like in 'Rosemary's Baby' where Rosemary is just a normal woman, but then they are thrust into a terrifying situation. Settings also play a big role. Abandoned asylums, cemeteries, and old mansions are common settings in horror stories as they have an air of mystery and danger already associated with them.
Fear of death is a big element in horror stories. The threat of death, whether it's from a serial killer or a supernatural force, is always present. Also, there's often a sense of helplessness. The characters find themselves in situations where they seem to have little control over what's happening to them. For instance, in 'The Blair Witch Project', the characters are lost in the woods and being hunted by an unknown entity. There's also the use of suspense. Writers build up the tension by delaying the reveal of the horror, making the readers or viewers more and more anxious as the story progresses.
One funny phish story is when a phisher sent an email claiming to be from a tech company offering a free high - end laptop. However, the link in the email led to a website that looked like it was made in the 90s with blinking text and bad graphics. It was clear it was a phish.
One phish ghost story could be about a fisherman who went out at night. As he was on his boat, he saw a strange, glowing figure in the water. It seemed to be the shape of a human but was translucent. He was so scared that he quickly rowed back to shore. When he told the locals, they said it might be the spirit of a drowned sailor, cursed to haunt the waters forever.
Another is the discovery of strange or disturbing behavior during the date. Like the person having extreme mood swings or being overly possessive. For example, suddenly getting angry for no reason or acting like they own the other person right away.
Food quality issues are common. For example, finding bugs or foreign objects in the food.
Common elements in diet horror stories include unrealistic goals. Many people aim to lose a huge amount of weight in a very short time. This leads them to choose very harsh diets. Also, ignoring the body's signals is a big part. They keep on with the diet even when they feel really unwell, like being constantly tired or having headaches, thinking it's just a phase.
One common element is financial exploitation. The findom often takes advantage of the submissive's willingness to give money, asking for more and more until it becomes unmanageable. Another is emotional abuse. They may use shame or guilt to make the person give more money. For example, making the payer feel like they are not good enough if they don't send a certain amount.