Beware the Fraudster

February 6, 2020 (Thursday)

I found a new word today as I browsed the web: “fraudster.” Actually it is not a new word; it’s only new to me (dates from 1960). It describes a person who is out to cheat you. The most common form of a fraudster these days is the telephone scammer who lies to you and attempts to extort money from you.

A member of my family was minding his own business one day when the phone rang and the voice at the other end of the line said “Uncle (name), this is (name); I’m in jail and I need your help.” The uncle said, “I will call you back,” hung up the phone, then dialed his nephew’s regular number. His nephew answered, “No, I’m not in jail.” End of scam.

We elderly people with family we love very much are particularly vulnerable. One lady I know, who was caregiver to her disabled husband, lost her entire life’s savings because of some fraudster on the phone.

An estimated one in every 10 American adults lost money in a phone scam in the past 12 months, according to a report released Wednesday. On average, each scam victim lost $430, totaling about $9.5 billion overall. That was an increase of 56% from the previous year, when victims on average lost $274 each. “No one is immune, and now more than ever there is a need to be vigilant,” said an expert in phone scams.

When Jesus was being questioned by Pilate, the Savior said, “I came to bear witness to the truth,” and Pilate spontaneously answered, “What is truth?” which was a common question of the era.

The truth is, you should hang up your phone at times. Better still, if you don’t recognize the phone number on the caller ID, just don’t answer, even if it looks like an official call of some kind.

We need to be aware also of the fraudster on the street or at the store. Not everyone who seems to need help really needs it. They may have pockets or purses filled with money they bilked from nice people like you.

I’m not saying, “Don’t help anybody,” but I am saying, “Be careful.”