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- #30 Too friendly to be true...
Good Day Brewers - Pang here! ☕
We’re already at #30!
If you’re still reading, I’ve got a question for you!
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Let me know!
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Enjoy this one!
Estimated reading time: 1,273 words - 5 mins 21 secs
In 2019, I attended a summer program at the European Innovation Academy.
We had the luxury of touring Italy during that period.
We visited a few key tourist destinations.
One of them was Rome, where my adventures began…
“Free” Bracelets
The merciless sun was beating down on us in nearly 40-degree weather.
Tourists were carrying umbrellas over their heads, shielding them from the overwhelming heat.
Our throat was dying of thirst as we climbed up a hundred flight of steps to reach the top.
For what?
Just to take this beautiful photo:
Moments after we’d taken this photo, we were ready to head back down to refill our empty bottles.
There was a water fountain at the foot of these steps at the heart of this huge shopping district in Rome, Italy.
Suddenly, there was a light tap on my right shoulder
I turned my back only to face a towering African man, almost a head taller than me at about 6’1 (I was only 5’7). He was beaming with a wide smile that showed his contrasting white teeth to his skin tone.
He was dressed in ancient-looking robes filled with a splash of pastel colors, from red, to orange, to yellow, to purple. A bunch of fancy-looking bracelets can be seen dangling from both his arms.
“Hey, friend. Where are you from?”
I was taken aback by the friendly “Hi” from a random stranger.
It was the first time on our trip that someone had approached me to ask about me.
I wasn’t interested in talking to strangers. Most of them try to sell me something—like the other time when this salesgirl pressured me into buying her moisturizer by making harsh remarks about my skin.
But this guy?
He projected his voice confidently, in a calm and friendly African accent.
He looks interesting enough—like someone I would talk to to learn more about their culture.
Seems harmless too…
“I’m from Singapore!” I replied.
“Ah, I see! Beautiful small country, huh?” He said.
All of a sudden, he reached out his right hand to grab my right arm and raised it up to my chest level without consent.
He was holding a bracelet in his left hand.
All of this happened within a split second.
What’s he doing?
My mind was spinning and I simply froze.
He gently placed the bracelet on my wrist.
As he was about to fasten it with a click, I felt a tight grip on my left arm, tugging me away.
It was Nathan yanking at me with the force of his vast biceps that could curl 50 pounds.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here!” He yelled.
I was confused.
The friendliest-looking African guy approached me.
It sure seems as if he was interested in giving me a bracelet and making friends.
But my friend just yanked me away in the middle of our conversation.
What just happened?
It wasn’t till we were back at our Airbnb that my friend, Nathan, explained the whole situation to me.
Imagine you were in this situation…
Yes. You’re a friendly tourist visiting Rome to explore the world’s famous Colosseum and Vatican City.
And now you found yourself in the busiest shopping district exploring the hearts of this city.
A friendly stranger approaches to ask about you.
Would you have responded?
He then goes on to fasten a bracelet on the wrist of your right arm.
You would have been shocked, right?
But at the same time, he would have also gotten your attention.
“Hey, why did you give me this bracelet? I need to return it.” You said.
But he insisted: “Hey no, keep it my friend. It’s for you.”
He then goes on to have a conversation with you in which he reveals that:
He moved here as a migrant
He got his girlfriend pregnant
And now he needs money to take care of the child
At this point in time, he has already earned your attention—by sharing with you his sob story.
He has already earned your sympathy and some form of trust—by giving you that bracelet and talking to you as a friend.
You’d feel obliged to give back, perhaps just a small tip.
Emotional scam much?
How do I know all of this?
Well, Nathan has a friend who’s encountered scammers just like this one.
These scammers are smart.
They are located in a place where there is an abundance of prey.
They know that tourists who can afford to visit Rome are typically well-to-do.
So their eyes scanned through the crowd looking for potential targets., like an eagle scouting for its prey from miles away.
Who knew that their friendly looks and gestures turned out to be a hoax?
Learning to tell stories from Scam Artists…
Did you notice how the scam artist was quick to pull out the tricks up his sleeves?
They’ve rehearsed and practiced this a million times.
Here’s how they carry out scams the storytelling way:
#1 Dazzling Hook
I’m not usually interested in strangers.
But this African man was dressed to stand out.
With beautiful colors splashed across his traditional robe.
That got me hooked and interested in having a conversation with him.
First impression counts.
If you can’t dazzle your audience, they’ll have no interest!
Hence, your title and first few sentences have to draw your readers in!
#2 Setting up the Stage
Now, he’s trying to get familiar with me.
How?
By asking me questions and by showing concern.
He’s setting up the environment for trust and relationships to be built.
For your story to hit hard, you need the perfect stage.
Elaborating and expanding on the context will help your readers get comfortable.
Before you drop the big moment on them!
#3 Surprise Move
It’s starting to get juicy.
Out of nowhere, this African man plants a bracelet on my wrist.
I’m shocked and confused at the same time.
Conflicting thoughts start to surface.
The conflict is packaged as a “surprise move” here to keep your audience interested.
Drop the conflict once you’ve established the context.
Keep the story moving and place your readers on the edge of their seats.
Without struggles and challenges to overcome, the story is bound to fall flat.
#4 Winning you over
I’m already drawn into the situation, not quite sure how to get out.
This is when the African man comes in with a sob story.
Getting his girlfriend pregnant and without a place to stay, he’s in a dire situation.
It was an opportunity to earn my sympathy.
It’s likely to move my heart and set me up for the finishing blow.
The climax is usually the turning point of the story, also known as the pivotal moment.
It’s emotionally charged and sets the stage for the change and transformation.
It’s the best time to win over your audience!
#5 Swooping in for the KILL
Once my heart is moved, it’s time to swoop in for the kill.
He opens his mouth and asks for a hefty tip to help a brother out.
As I’ve already bought his sob story, I had little choice but to give in to his demands.
Your ending should deliver an impactful message.
It’s not necessary to finish off your stories with a CTA. But a CTA keeps your readers engaged.
Questions can often encourage reflection.
You could even post your offers at the end of your stories!
In summary, here are the five key elements of storytelling that you can learn from scammers!
#1 Dazzling Hook
#2 Setting up the Stage
#3 Surprise Move
#4 Winning you over
#5 Swooping in for the KILL
Now, if you ever get to visit popular tourist attractions like Rome…
Be sure to keep your wallet close to you. Stay attentive and avoid strangers.
And if you’ve ever been scammed before, I’m sorry that happened to you.
But still, these stories keep me intrigued.
So keep me updated, will ya?
See you next week!
Your Barista,
Pang
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