Manipulative Communication in Cybercrime: Unraveling the Linguistic Tactics of Online Scams and Attacks

Abstract: Cybercrime has evolved into a sophisticated web of manipulative communication, leveraging linguistic and rhetorical tactics to deceive, exploit, and manipulate individuals. This paper explores the linguistic strategies employed in cyber deception, particularly in phishing scams, social engineering, and AI-generated misinformation. Using discourse analysis frameworks such as Grice’s (1975) conversational implicature, Bakhtin’s (1981) authoritative discourse, Fairclough’s (1995) critical discourse analysis, and Aristotle’s rhetorical appeals (trans. 1991), this research argues that cybercriminals exploit pragmatic ambiguity, persuasive rhetoric, and psychological manipulation to construct deceptive narratives. Furthermore, it examines the parallels between digital deception and literary traditions of manipulation, drawing from works such as Orwell’s 1984 and Shakespeare’s Othello. The study emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary research integrating linguistics, literature, psychology, and cyber-security to combat manipulative cyber communication. Additionally, it considers counterarguments that prioritize technological solutions over linguistic analysis and presents a balanced perspective on the necessity of critical linguistic awareness in cyber-security education. Keywords: cyber linguistics, discourse analysis, deception, phishing, social engineering, rhetoric, AI-generated text, sociolinguistics, cyber-security education