My dad loved a good scam call — especially IRS scams. In retirement, they were entertainment, a little mental sport. He’d adopt a stutter and ask endless questions: “Are you sure? What line was that on? Can you hang on while I go get my tax return?” Then he’d take his sweet time, letting the scammer sit there and wait. When he’d had enough, he’d drop the stutter and deliver a reprimand so severe they hung up on him.
My mom was the opposite — too trusting, and it cost her. A fraudulent charge showed up on her credit card, an auto supply store in Texas. Her card company caught it, no problem. But then “the credit card company” called saying they were issuing her a new card, and could she just confirm her name, address, birthday, and Social Security number? She gave them all of it. A bail bond charge from Texas hit her card next, and this time the real credit card company wouldn’t budge — this one was on her. It took months to clear the charge and repair her credit, while collection agents called her late into the evening and Sunday mornings.
There are so many scams now. Dating scams, natural disaster scams, political scams — there’s even a scam for people who’ve already been scammed. It’s the lawyer scam: pay us and we’ll help recover some of what you lost.
Are you as scam-exhausted as I am? How do we even know what to trust anymore?
We can’t let the fatigue win.
Stay alert. Whether it’s a call, email, text, or social media post: scammers rely on urgency and ask that you skip the normal process — pay with gift cards, click their link, or verify your personal information.
Slow down, hang up, and call the number you already trust — not the one they give you. Log into your accounts and don’t use their links. And now that AI voice cloning can convincingly fake a grandchild’s panicked call, it’s worth agreeing on a family code word – before you actually need one!
My dad had the right instinct: make them wait. Scammers count on you moving fast. The best defense isn’t cleverness — it’s a pause and lots of questions.
And if the mood hits you – mess with your scammer and have a bit of fun! Why not? It may prevent them from making just one more call. Or skip the questions altogether and invest in a really loud hiking whistle. It’s the gift that keeps on ringing — for them!
Take your sweet time and enjoy Labor Day weekend.
Barbara
September 6, 2026
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