Whenever we make a purchase, we often wonder,

在我們買東西的時候，我們很常會思考：

"Am I getting the best deal on this? Could I find a better rate on a different site?"

「我這樣買是不是最划算的？能不能在其他的網站上找到更低的價格？」

The bigger the price tag, the more welcome a discount would be.

商品的原價越高，折扣就越發誘人。

So, when we find the unbelievable deal, we want to believe it.

因此當我們找到難以置信的超低價格時，便會想要相信它是真的。

Our desire for reward is often stronger than our fear of repercussion, like the mouse that ignores the trap so he can get the cheese.

我們對於最終獎勵的渴望，通常高過我們對於負面後果的恐懼，就如同老鼠為了拿到起司而忽略掉捕鼠器一樣。

It's five o'clock on a Friday, and Susan is finishing her work week.

時間正值星期五的晚上五點，Susan 剛結束長達一個星期的工作。

Now, for her second job, prepping for the birth of her son.

而她正準備開始她的第二份工作：為她即將誕生的兒子作好準備。

Tonight, she's on the hunt for a stroller, shocked at the wide variety of brands but uniformly high prices,

今晚她正在網路上尋找一台嬰兒推車，並為品牌種類之多，以及不論哪個品牌都價格高昂感到震驚不已。

"This thing better push itself."

「這推車是會自己推著動還是怎樣？」

Susan pokes around popular websites, but is discouraged.

Susan 逛了幾個熱門的購物網站，但仍沒找到滿意的結果。

She keeps searching, and soon finds the exact item she's looking for being sold by an individual who can no longer use it.

她繼續在網路上搜尋，很快地便發現了她想要的那個商品，而賣家是一位不再需要它的個人賣家。

But there's only the one stroller, and Susan knows this opportunity won't last forever.

然而嬰兒推車就只有一台，而 Susan 清楚知道這樣的機會可不會持續太久。

When we find something we really want, our judgment is impaired⏤that's no accident.

當我們找到了真正想要的商品時，我們的判斷力便會下降，而這並不是偶發的狀況。

It's built into the very psychological nature of a reward-based or merchandise scam.

贈獎或是買賣詐騙就是利用人類如此的心理反應來運作的。

According to recent research, merchandise scams were the most popular scam of 2020, both overall and online.

根據近期研究顯示，買賣詐騙案件是 2020 年數量最多的詐騙案件，不論在全部的詐騙案件或是網路詐騙案件中都名列前茅。

Clearly, the simplicity is successful, and in order for them to work, these scams use a tactic known as phantom fixation.

而這樣簡單的做法顯然是能騙到人的，而這些詐騙手法利用了一種叫做「幻想依戀」的戰術來運作。

It's what happens when we're given an offer so incredible that it clouds our critical judgment.

當我們找到了一個划算地難以置信的買賣時，我們的關鍵判斷能力便會降低。

Susan is fixated by the opportunity in front of her.

Susan 被這個擺在她眼前的機會所魅惑了。

She ponders, imagining the joy such treasure will bring.

她思索著，想象著淘到這樣的寶能為她帶來多少喜悅。

Such a prize would place her at the envy of her fellow parents as she strolls right by them.

這樣的戰利品會讓周圍的家長朋友們在她推著推車走過時，對她羨慕不已。

Unable to ignore the pull any longer, Susan snaps into action and quickly secures the stroller of her dreams.

Susan 於是再也無法抗拒這種誘惑，立即投入行動並很快地下訂單買下了她夢想中的嬰兒推車。

A wave of excitement and relief wash over her; she's finally nabbed her dream stroller.

一股興奮與安心的情緒朝她席捲而來，她總算買到她夢想中的嬰兒推車了。

The scam may be apparent to us observers, but for the person who finds the great deal, it's as dazzling as finding a diamond in the middle of Main Street.

對旁觀者而言詐騙騙局可能相當明顯，但對於好不容易發現寶的人來說，騙局就好像在大街上找到一顆鑽石一樣的耀眼。

But does this happen every time we find a great deal, or does the money itself factor into our fixation?

但這種情況在每次我們發現划算的交易時都會，還是只有牽扯到金錢時才會讓我們失去自我？

According to a 2016 study, decisions involving money activate different brain functions than non-financial decisions.

根據 2016 年的一項研究顯示，與金錢有關的決策與與金錢無關的決策相比，會觸發我們腦中不同的功能部位。

In fact, researchers found that individuals asked to pay a high price for an item experienced an actual emotional pain response in the brain.

實際上，研究人員發現當一個人被要求以更高的價格來購買某件物品時，受試者會在腦中感受到情緒上的疼痛反應。

Thus, someone finding a cheaper price could trigger a relief, and the perceived lack of pain would further influence their decision.

因此當人找到更便宜的價格時可能會觸發安心感，而沒有因為高價格而感受到疼痛則會更進一步影響他們的決策。

This effect can be greater than with non-money-based decisions.

這種效果在與金錢無關的決策時更加顯著。

So, how do we avoid the influence of money, phantom fixation, and merchandise scams in general?

所以我們該如何避免金錢、幻想依戀與買賣詐騙呢？

Glad you asked.

很高興你這麼問。

Well, there are several red flags to watch out for.

這個嘛，我們需要注意幾個警訊。

Basically, what it comes down to is, remember that when you're buying something on the internet,

基本上最關鍵的原則就是，記得當你在網路上買東西時，

if you're buying it from a website or a person you've never met before, you don't know who you're dealing with.

如果你是向一個網站或是你從來沒見過的人買東西的話，你其實不知道你到底在跟誰打交道。

They may be perfectly legitimate, they may also be a scammer.

他們可能完全合法，童叟無欺，但也可能是個詐騙。

So, once you see the red flags, what do you do?

所以當發現警訊之後該怎麼做？

I believe in trust⏤I would not say don't trust anybody.

我還是相信人與人之間的信任，我不會說你不該相信任何人。

Instead, I would say, being trusting is a great portion of who we are as humans.

相反的是，我覺得信任是人類之所以為人的重要價值之一。

We just, perhaps, need to slow down a little bit and think through things when somebody says something to us and we're not quite sure it's real.

但當我們在聽到有人跟我們說一些我們不確定究竟是不是真相的事情時，我們最好還是先緩下來，仔細思考一下。

A good deal is hard to pass up, but an unbelievable deal?

一筆划算的交易讓人難以錯過，但划算到讓人難以置信的交易？

That should probably be questioned.

這就得好好懷疑一下了。

Avoid getting scammed.

盡量避免受騙上當。

Be careful about who you're giving your money to, and always confirm you have the recipient's correct information before sending payment.

在匯錢給他人之前保持謹慎，並記得在匯錢之前確保你手邊有著接收方的正確資訊。

Most important, Zelle would like to remind you to only send money to those you know and trust.

最重要的是，Zelle 匯款服務想提醒你：永遠只匯錢給你所熟知並信任的對象。