An Anatomy of Phishing Messages as Deceitful Persuasion: A Categorical Content and Semantic Network Analysis

• In Event: Applied Communcation Investigations: Relationships and Influence

Abstract

This study conducted a content analysis on phishing messages with categories of persuasive message components and a semantic network analysis. Results showed that phishing messages rely on reasoning from cause in logical appeals, safety needs in motivational appeals. With regard to message organization, phishing emails use more frequently explicit messages than implicit messages, and climax order than anti-climax order. Phishing emails do not use much time restriction such as asking a quick response.

Authors

• Daejoong Kim, State University of New York, Buffalo

• Jang Hyun Kim, Univ of Hawaii, Manoa

• Sinuk Kang, State University of New York, Buffalo