Emotion and urgency are among common ways to shortcircuit critical thinking Staff Report There is no shame in being or else admitting that you've been scammed-unless of course, you're the …
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Emotion and urgency are among common ways to shortcircuit critical thinking
Staff Report
There is no shame in being or else admitting that you've been scammed-unless of course, you're the one scamming. In which case, what's wrong with you? No one ever taught you to be nice?
For the rest, we reiterate that there is NO SHAME in being scammed or else admitting as much, but knowing the warning signs can be helpful to keep from being taken for a ride-or a
See SCAMMERS SHAME, Page 12
Once a ubiquitous feature of the landscape, pay phones like this one in Jackson County are among the few left–(without a dial tone, in case you were wondering). Don’t pay the price of falling for a scam. Decline the charges by knowing how to spot sure signs of when someone is trying to fool you. Staff photo. SCAMMER’S SHAME
FROM PAGE 7
phone scam.
“Hi, this is Lisa,” the call came just recently. “Due to the tragic time we’re offering a full debt forgiveness on Visa Mastercard.”
This situation (which really happened to us) is problematic precisely for the reason once observed by Vito Corleone, well-known fictional founder of the Genco Olive Oil
Company. Namely; ‘why do I deserve this generosity?’ Credit card companies are in business to make money, so that offering debt forgiveness with no strings attached is somewhat fishy. If
it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
On to scenario two:
"Hi, it's your grandson. I was just in a fight
and I need you to wire me bail money fast.”
This appeal (purely fictional, by the way),
tugs at the heart strings—along with urging speed to short circuit critical thinking. Maybe the grandson or granddaughter (this is rough, but legitimate) needs to sit in jail in order to straighten his/her life out somewhat—that or the scammer impersonating them does.
Finally, scenario three: “My name is…and I’m calling you about your vehicle’s extended warranty.
Records show that the insurance on your vehicle is expiring. Press one to speak with a representative now.”
Just hang up on that one—it’s ok to. If everyone’s warranty was in jeopardy to the degree implied, there wouldn’t be a purpose for auto insurance—or maybe there would.
Bad things do happen sometimes, after all.