International journal

Speech Genres

ISSN 2311-0759 (Online)
ISSN 2311-0740 (Print)

For citation:

Smirnova I. V. The discourse of technically mediated fraud: The genre “razvod” / “razvodilovo” (≈ “swindle” / “con game”) and its strategies . Speech Genres, 2024, vol. 19, iss. 1 (41), pp. 90-103. DOI: 10.18500/2311-0740-2024-19-1-41-90-103, EDN: ETJBPD

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0).
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Language: 
Russian
Heading: 
Genres of new culture spheres
Article type: 
Article
UDC: 
81’42
DOI: 
10.18500/2311-0740-2024-19-1-41-90-103
EDN: 
ETJBPD

The discourse of technically mediated fraud: The genre “razvod” / “razvodilovo” (≈ “swindle” / “con game”) and its strategies

Autors: 
Smirnova Irina V., The Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration
Abstract: 

The article examines fraudulent discourse – a special type of discourse, the purpose of which is to take possession of other people’s property and obtain benefits through deceit or breach of trust. The author differentiates the legal understanding of the phenomenon of “fraud” and its perception in the ordinary worldview. It is proved that the concept of fraudulent discourse should include a number of communicative acts qualified by the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation as theft or extortion. The central genre of fraudulent discourse is the speech genre “swindle” / “con game”, based on the conscious and purposeful manipulative influence of the initiator of communication (fraudster) on the addressee (victim). Nowadays, the wide spread of remote communication determines the predominance of “swindle” using various technical means that provide synchronous or asynchronous interaction between the subjects of communication. The “swindle” / “con game” genre embodies the formulaicity of fraudulent discourse and is implemented through a limited number of strategies, each of which uses a stable set of means of influence. The main strategies are the appeal to fear, the appeal to luck and creation of the illusion of routine. As part of the fear appeal strategy, three tactics are distinguished, namely, the tactics of instilling fear for one’s prosperity and well-being, the tactics of instilling fear for the safety of a family member, and the tactics of instilling fear of public reprimand. The analysis is carried out by a continuous sampling method and is based on messages (more than 400 units) of potential victims or victims of technically mediated fraud, presented in the form of a narrative and posted on various communication resources in the media space. 

Key words: 
fraud
discourse
linguistic security
speech manipulation
communication strategies
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Received: 
09.02.2023
Accepted: 
14.04.2023
Published: 
01.03.2024