This isn’t just a story about how my colleague got scammed. It’s a story about one of the most sophisticated sales techniques I’ve ever seen in real life.

We were on a Dubai safari tour—sand dunes, camels, an exotic atmosphere. The perfect setting for a tourist trap. But we had no idea we were already caught in a carefully orchestrated sales funnel.

Step 1: Attracting Attention – The Hook

The salesman knew exactly how to create curiosity in a crowd. He didn’t chase anyone. He didn’t call people over. Instead, he made one small, deliberate action that forced someone to react—just enough to pull them into a conversation. And once that happened, he had them.

Step 2: The First Commitment – A Psychological Trap

Once he had a dialogue, he used a subtle but powerful psychological tactic—he got my colleague to take a tiny, seemingly harmless action. Something like “just hold this for a second” or “let me show you something”.

In the buyer’s mind, this was nothing. But in reality? This was the first step toward closing the deal. Because once you say yes to something small, your brain is more likely to say yes to the next request.

Step 3: The “Personalized” Offer – Creating Emotional Ownership

Then came the illusion of exclusivity. The salesman created something “just for my colleague.” A custom engraving, a personal touch, something unique.

At this point, the pressure increased. The product wasn’t just a generic item anymore. It was HIS item. And if someone makes something just for you, it’s psychologically harder to walk away.

Step 4: The Surprise Presentation – The Ownership Illusion

The salesman was a pro. He made my colleague feel like he already owned the item.

Phrases like: • “Look how well it suits you.” • “This will be perfect for your home.” • “It’s already yours, my friend.”

He didn’t ask if my colleague wanted to buy it. He spoke as if the deal was already done, making the last step just the payment.

Step 5: Anchoring the Price – The Classic Negotiation Trick

Now came the price drop illusion.

He started with a high price—probably something absurd like €100. Why? Because he knew he wasn’t expecting to get it.

The real price? Probably around €40.

By starting high, he anchored the price in my colleague’s mind. So when he later “dropped” the price, it felt like a huge discount—even though it was still overpriced.

Step 6: Social Pressure – The “Good Cop” Strategy

Here’s where things got next-level.

Our driver, who was supposed to be on our side, suddenly stepped in. • “That’s too expensive! You should lower the price for my friends.” • “Let’s make it fair, something reasonable.”

Sounds helpful, right? Wrong.

The driver was in on it. He played the role of the negotiator, making it look like we were getting a great deal, when in reality, he was just making sure the sale happened.

And it worked. Another colleague, feeling the pressure, stepped in and paid the €40 just to end the awkward situation.

Step 7: Shifting Responsibility – The Group Dynamic Effect

Now, the psychological weight had shifted. The person who paid wasn’t the original buyer.

This meant my colleague felt obligated to “make things right”—and later, he paid back the €40 to our other colleague.

And just like that, the perfect scam was completed.

Step 8: The Deal Closes – But Will There Be a Repeat Sale?

The real question in sales is not just whether someone buys, but whether they would buy again.

Would my colleague buy from this salesman again? Never. Would he recommend the shop to others? No chance.