Scams & Cyber Safety: Outsmarting Fear in a Digital Age

Every scam starts with a story- and usually, it’s one that feels urgent. A call about a grandchild in trouble. A text claiming your account will be locked. A friendly message that slowly turns personal, then financial. In a world where cybercrime grows craftier every day, the most powerful defense isn’t software- it’s self-awareness. This is not about living afraid; it’s about living alert. Because the best way to outsmart a scammer is to master the very thing they depend on most: your rush to act before you think.

Some years ago, I received a call from a local pharmacy regarding one of their regular customers, an elderly lady, who seemed upset and in a hurry. They were able to stall her until I arrived. After speaking with her, I learned she had been contacted by someone claiming to be a law enforcement officer in New Mexico. They advised her that her granddaughter was in jail there and she needed to make a payment to be released. Of course, they wanted payment in gift cards.

Obviously, it was a scam. Most scams do not begin with a criminal mastermind in a dark room. They begin with a small moment of pressure- an unexpected phone call, a convincing email, a text that feels urgent. The scammer’s goal is rarely to outsmart someone. It is to hurry them.

That is why the first rule of cyber safety is not technical. It is spiritual and practical at the same time: slow down. Fear makes people impulsive. Pressure makes people obedient. Scammers build their entire strategy on those two human weaknesses.

Cybercrime has become one of the most common public safety threats in modern life, and it touches every age group. Seniors are targeted because they may be more trusting. Young adults are targeted because they live online. Parents are targeted because they worry about their children. Everyone is targeted because we all have something worth stealing: identity, money, reputation, or peace¹.

The Three Tools Scammers Use Most

Most scams use a predictable set of tactics. If these tactics are recognized, trouble can be spotted faster than it can be explained.

1. Urgency.

“This must be handled immediately.”
“You have 30 minutes.”
“Your account will be locked.”
Urgency is the scammer’s greatest weapon because it bypasses good judgment. If someone is trying to rush a decision, that is reason enough to pause.

2. Authority.

Scammers pretend to be banks, police departments, government agencies, employers, even pastors. They borrow the voice of someone people are conditioned to obey. A real institution will allow time to verify. A scammer will punish for questioning them.

3. Secrecy.

“Don’t tell anyone.”
“This is confidential.”
“Your family can’t know.”
Secrecy isolates. It makes manipulation easier. Healthy systems welcome verification. Scams depend on silence.

The Scams People Are Falling For Right Now

Scams evolve, but the patterns remain.

One common scheme is the “bank fraud alert” call or text. A message is received claiming suspicious activity. The scammer then “helps” secure the account by asking for codes, passwords, or transfers. The truth is simple: a legitimate bank will not ask for the security codes it just sent².

Another rising threat is the “badge scam.” Someone calls pretending to be law enforcement and claims missed jury duty, a warrant, or owed fines. They may use real names, real department numbers, and professional language. Then they demand payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Here is the plain truth: real law enforcement does not collect fines through gift cards. Ever³.

Online marketplaces have their own traps. A buyer may send a fake payment email, overpay with a fraudulent check, or request that a seller “confirm” something by clicking a link. The rule here is painfully simple: if the deal requires leaving the platform, it’s probably not a deal.

And then there are romance scams, which are not just financial crimes- they are emotional crimes. They often begin gently and grow into a relationship that feels real. Eventually, there is a crisis, a need, or a sudden emergency. Money is requested. Shame follows. These scams work because loneliness is a powerful hunger. It makes people generous. It makes them hopeful. And scammers know that⁴.

Practical Cyber Safety Without Paranoia

There is no need to become suspicious of everyone. Only a few steady habits are needed.

Use strong, unique passwords, and wherever possible, turn on two-factor authentication. Do not reuse passwords across multiple accounts. It feels inconvenient—until the day it saves vital information.

Never click links in unexpected texts or emails. Instead, visit the official website directly or call the number on the back of a card. If someone claims to be from an organization, hang up and call the verified number independently. A real employee will not punish caution.

And if there is uncertainty, talk to someone. A spouse. A friend. A trusted adult child. A coworker. Scammers hate community. Wisdom multiplies when it is shared.

A Final Word: Wisdom Is Not Fear

Cyber safety is not about living in dread. It is about living awake.

Doors are locked at night, not because the world is hated, but because the world is understood. In the same way, digital caution is not cynicism. It is stewardship. It is care for what has been entrusted: resources, name, household, and peace.

The goal is not to become hardened. The goal is to become steady.

And when the next urgent message arrives- when someone tries to hurry, frighten, or isolate- remember this: it is allowed to slow down. That one habit alone will stop most scams before they ever begin.

Bibliography

1. Federal Trade Commission. “Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2023.” https://www.ftc.gov

2. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. “Beware of Impersonators: FDIC Tips for Protecting Your Finances.” https://www.fdic.gov

3. U.S. Department of Justice. “Don’t Be Fooled by Government Imposter Scams.” https://www.justice.gov

4. Federal Bureau of Investigation. “FBI Warns of Romance Scams Ahead of Valentine’s Day.” https://www.fbi.gov