Scam prevention (and cleanup) are part of our everyday lives, now. Hackers, ID thieves, and general con artists are out to snag as many people as possible. The sad fact is that law enforcement can do little to stop these people and, even if they have a bad guy dead to rights, the odds of recovering any money are slim to none. That means that all of the work of preventing and cleaning up after a scam falls on us, the consumers.
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was some way to short circuit a scam before you ever became a victim? We talk all the time about techniques like not giving out personal information, strong passwords, installing malware prevention on your computer, and not clicking on questionable links in emails. But what is rarely mentioned is that the best way to prevent a scam is also the easiest:
Relax. Breathe. Think.
Most scams are, at their heart, designed to cause confusion and panic. They’re designed to circumvent your judgment and common sense and get you into a mental state where whatever nuttiness the scammer suggests seems perfectly reasonable. Look at some common scams:
- The red alarm pop-up window on your computer blaring that you have a virus? Designed to make you panic.
- That call from your “grandchild” who is in jail? Again, designed to make you panic.
- An email from “your boss” telling you to email thousands of dollars in gift cards (or else) so he can pay a client? Designed to make you afraid of losing your job.
- The guy from the “IRS’ who shows up at your door demanding money or he’ll haul you to jail? More fear.
- The text telling you to check your account because someone has gained access? Designed to make you freak out and click that link.
- The caller that tells you to go to five stores and buy all these different gift cards to pay your utility bill, and don’t worry he’ll stay on the phone while you do it? Designed to confuse you.
- The caller who tells you that you have only an hour to pay a bill or settle a judgment before you go to jail or lose your home? Designed to sow fear and panic, and the time limit makes it worse.
- The work from home scam that has you depositing checks in order to somehow make money, but which has convoluted steps to follow? Designed to prey on your drive for easy money and confuse you so you don’t see the problem.
The list goes on, but you get the idea. They’re all deliberately designed to trigger the flight or fight response and make you react without thinking. The best way to prevent these scams is to force yourself to slow down. Relax. Breathe. Think.
When confronted with an anxiety-inducing scam, deliberately slow down. Tell the caller you’ll call them back at the official number. Don’t automatically react to the text or email. Walk away before you click on any odd links. Take time to think about anything that seems too good to be true.
Scammers want you to believe that time is of the essence, that things will get significantly worse if you don’t act RIGHT NOW. That’s the first step in making you panic. The truth is, there’s almost nothing in the world that will be made significantly worse by waiting an hour to deal with it. You have every right to pause and no one who is legitimate will deny you that right.
When you pause, practice intentional breathing. Deep inhales and full exhales. Maybe take a walk outside and get some fresh air. This slows down your heart rate and calms the fight or flight response. It helps to restore logical thinking. Another thing that can help is to call a trusted friend and tell them what’s happening. They can probably see more clearly than you because their judgment isn’t clouded by panic.
With logic restored, now you can think and act appropriately. Are you really afraid that your grandkid is in jail? Then call her parents to find out, or call the jail directly. Did someone really take over your bank account? Visit the official bank website, login and double check. Is it really logical that your electric company would want payment in Apple gift cards? Would the IRS just show up on your doorstep without ever once sending a letter or making a phone call?
Once you expose the scam to cold logic, the flaw is often obvious. When you relax, breathe, and think you realize how silly most of these scams are. When you do it often enough, it becomes second nature and you become that much more immune to future scams. So always take your time and question everything. As I said, no one who is legitimate will question your desire to hang up and call back, to think about an offer, or to take time to review documents.
One caveat: While it is generally easy for young people to practice this technique, it is much more difficult for older adults (or anyone) with compromised brain functioning. Dementia and old age conspire against logical thinking, so you still need to watch out for elder scams. If you care for seniors or anyone with an impaired brain, you have to be extra vigilant. It can be helpful, though, to post a sign that says, “Relax. Breathe. Think.” above the phones and computers in the person’s home as a gentle reminder.