I have never taken an IQ test that asked questions related to insight into someone trying to take advantage of you. A fundamental factor in my success and every self made business owner I know is that they are better than most people at detecting frauds, scams, dishonesty. It is almost a requirement for a good business owner to develop a deep sense of when someone is scamming you, because someone with money will run into dozens of scams a day trying to take your money.
When I say scam, I don’t just mean things like multi level marketing or ponzi schemes. I also include dishonest employees and contractors trying to embezzle or defraud a company. I include overpriced services, fake partnership emails and calls from people wanting leads, insiders or outsiders who are just overconfident in themselves or a conclusion. To be honest, most of my role at this point is screening out scams and constantly saying no so that my business and team can stay focused on what matters.
I don’t think I was born with some sort of sixth sense to detect scams and frauds and dishonesty. I learned it all through my life with many painful experiences. When I was very young I was in a near religious cult where everyone around me fully believed in something and I tried my hardest to as well. It took me until I was 17 to fully realize there was absolutely no evidence or truth behind it. My parents told me over and over as a child how important they were to each other and how important us kids were to them… But their behaviors eventually showed that to be a lie. I was taught by my friends and social group that music, fashion, and generally being cool were the most important things in life and I believed it until I was burned. Eventually the injuries heal and leave you with vital lessons in how to avoid being lied to, defrauded, and cheated.
I wonder if there is a way to train someone in scam / cheat / lie detection without them needing to suffer through being burned by those things repeatedly?