Diana Clement 's Opinion  Your Money and careers writer for the
NZ Herald  Diana Clement: Knowing tricks best defence against
scams  Persuasion is a key part of the sales patter.  Photo /
Getty Images  We're conned every day of the week. Sometimes it's
perfectly legal - such as the salesman on your doorstep, or the
gushing claims about how that cream visibly reduces wrinkles.
Other times it's a scam such as an email claiming you've won the
lottery or are due to inherit millions.  Both scammers and
salespeople use persuasion tactics designed to part man (or
woman) from money. Too many of us fall for the patter. At least
we do if the person is good at what they do.  There is a science
to how we are persuaded. One of the most common sales techniques
uses reciprocity. People want to give back to others the form of
behaviour they have received first. Our brains are hardwired
that way.  Or if someone does you a favour you owe a debt to him
or her. The bottom line is that people are more likely to say
"yes" to those