GUEST BLOGGER
Liza Ayres
Contributing Writer

It’s scary how easy it can be to get caught in a scam. The increased presence of technology worldwide has heightened our risk of exposure to fraudulent situations. Humans are wired to be trusting of other people and things, so if we’re not careful, we can quickly get caught in a compromising scenario.

The good news, though, is that even though scams are widespread, there are many kind people out there who are willing and able to help others avoid these scams. To help bring a spot of brightness to your day in these uncertain times, here are a few feel-good, fraud-fighting tales where the bad guys don’t win. They are stories that inspire us to lend our expertise to others who might be at risk of a scam.

Intervention in the checkout lane

A woman in Idaho was lucky that Lee Post was in the checkout line behind her last January to stop her from engaging in a phone scam. Post noticed something suspicious when the woman, who was on the phone while in line, asked the cashier to load $3,000 onto several gift cards. Post quickly took action by informing her it was a scam. Post told the man on the other line to never call the woman again, and the caller quickly hung up. Lee noted that her work as a former consumer specialist had taught her the telltale signs of a phone scam. Brett DeLange, the Consumer Protection Division Chief of Idaho, released a statement after this incident encouraging businesses to train their retail staff to spot potential scams and suggesting that friends and families educate one another on how to be proactive in the face of fraud.

“Nice try, you creep.”

The Portland Police Bureau recently had a good laugh while engaging with a citizen who believed she was being scammed by the police. While humorous, the incident reassured the Bureau that Portland’s residents are savvy when it comes to navigating potential fraud risks. Officer Fullington found a missing ID on a theft suspect and tried to reunite the ID with its rightful owner, Amanda. When he didn’t get through by phone, he sent a text, hoping she would give him a call back. She sent a “mildly” skeptical reply, saying, “Bullsh*t. There’s no way a cop has my cell number. Nice try, you creep.”

But once Officer Fullington sent a selfie in his uniform with the ID, she realized it wasn’t actually a scam. The Police Bureau was able to reconnect Amanda with her ID, and they say her skepticism was valid. According to Portland Police, recent Oregon scams have used real police officers’ names and a fake caller ID to con unsuspecting victims into paying money for bail on a fake warrant. Police encourage citizens to react similarly to Amanda until they receive undeniable proof that something is true.

Taking the scenic route to safety

Rajbir Singh played the role of local hero when he finally convinced a 92-year-old woman not to withdraw $25,000 to fulfill a scam. When Singh, a California cab driver, started chatting with his passenger, he immediately became suspicious when she told him she was withdrawing the money “to settle a debt with the IRS.” Singh tried to get her to reconsider, first by making detours to buy time to reason with her, then by calling the number to interrogate the scammer, who, in turn, blocked Singh, and finally, by driving her to a police station to talk to an officer about the risk. Singh’s persistence and forethought are admirable, and the local precinct even rewarded his guidance with a thank-you gift.

Promising stories of hometown heroes and helpful organizations remind us that it doesn’t take much beyond a well-informed citizen, an attentiveness to suspicious requests and a willingness to assist to stop a potential scam. It’s encouraging to hear about people helping unsuspecting consumers, and it reminds us that spreading knowledge about common frauds is one of the most useful things we can do. Stay safe and stay vigilant, fraud fighters.

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