I have never met anyone who says, “I just love it when the telemarketers call! I believe every word they say and can hardly wait to give them my credit card information or bank routing and account numbers. I’m always excited to get free estimates and will gladly tell the caller where I live so that we can set up a time to meet.” These people must exist, though, since there are also fraud attorneys and time share exit companies to help bail them out of their poor decisions.
The scammers prey on the vulnerable and elderly. They look for the weakest and pounce without remorse. They take advantage of a person’s good intentions, exploiting it and weaponizing it against the consumer. This is why the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), organized in 1914, has declared March 3-9 as National Consumer Protection Week.
The FTC has recognized the first week in March for many years as an opportunity to put a spotlight on those who would try to scam the public. As a part of their awareness week, today has been declared as Slam The Scam Day. While scams come in many forms, the focus of this day is to stop scams that try to get your Social Security number.
Inspector General for the Social Security Administration (SSA OIG) gives the following guidelines. Real government officials will NEVER:
- Threaten arrest or legal action against you unless you immediately send money;
- Promise to increase your benefits or resolve a problem if you pay a fee or move your money into a protected account;
- Require payment with gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfer, Internet currency, or by mailing cash; or
- Try to gain your trust by providing fake “documentation,” false “evidence,” or the name of a real government official.1
A couple of personal thoughts to avoid scams are:
- If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is;
- If you are being pushed to make a decision right now, DON’T;
- If the solicitor is a pre-recorded message that starts out trying to be funny, just hang up. Even if they aren’t trying to be funny, hang up. It’s pre-recorded. You aren’t hurting anyone’s feelings;
- Assume everything is a scam and never give out personal information.
That sounds really cynical, doesn’t it? But you are about to give out PERSONAL, CRITICAL information. You don’t know the person on the other end of the phone. How did they earn your trust that would make you so willing to divulge that information?
Scammers are nothing new. And it’s not just your money they’re after!
Titus 1:9-14 warns, “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. (10) For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: (11) Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. (12) One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. (13) This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; (14) Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.”
And, in 2 Peter 2:1-3, we read, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2) And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (3) And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”
Spiritual scammers are even more abundant than financial scammers. They are after SOULS as well as the money. Let’s make this our Slam The Scam Day. Warn your family and friends of the spiritual scammers who are teaching false doctrine and bilking the saints of their money by selling their blessed baubles and pushing for the investment of “seed money” with a promised blessing to every generous giver.
It’s time for us to agree with God and with Titus. Their mouths MUST be stopped. The simplest way to stop them is to shut off the money supply, turn them off the radio or television, and warn others to do the same.
Slam the Scam today!
1https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-slam-the-scam-day-march-9
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