Put protecting yourself first when it comes to scammers

By Medicine Hat News Opinon on March 27, 2018.

It’s OK to be rude.

No, this isn’t an invitation to stop holding doors for strangers, to skip the please and thank-yous, or to burp out the alphabet at dinner.

As Fraud Prevention Month wraps up, it’s a reminder that “rudeness” is a perfectly legitimate tactic when it comes to protecting yourself from scams.

Despite the lamentation of older generations, civility and politeness are still very much a societal norm. It’s hard being rude.

We’d rather go with the white lie of “So sorry, how about another time? I already have plans” to someone we’d rather not hang out with, even if those plans are to sit in your underwear and binge watch a TV series. It’s an inability to say “no” yet again when volunteers are needed, or staying up until 2 a.m. cooking allergen-free cupcakes for your kid’s classroom, or saying a newborn is adorable even if they’re basically the reincarnation of Winston Churchill.

Being blunt, assertive and firmly saying no isn’t actually rude — but to many it comes across as such. Which is why many folks avoid it.

It’s great for keeping the peace. Not so great when dealing with potential fraudsters.

The Better Business Bureau estimates that Canadians lost $95 million in 2017 due to scams. Unfortunately, seniors are targeted at a higher rate for fraud due to their vulnerability —many are much more trusting, lonely, and not as mentally sharp as they once were.

There’s aggressive frauds that rely on fear, such as those posing as Canada Revenue Agency staff and threatening people with finds to badger them into sending funds. Then there’s those who play friendly and play on a sense of trust.

As scams become even more sophisticated, it’s more important than ever to use the resources available from police, government and consumer protection agencies to stay informed and prepare yourself.

Part of that preparation? Being ready to say bluntly say “no,” and sticking to it.

Yes, that’s super hard to do, especially when the person you’re saying no to isn’t a stranger. Pyramid and gifting scams — where a person is recruited, then have to go out and recruit more people to earn their money back — rely on this. Part of the reason these illegal scams thrive is because they rely on the inherent trust people have with friends and family. It’s super hard to tell Aunt Sharon or that good friend you’ve known since Grade 3 that they’ve been taken in by a scam.

Practice saying “Not interested” and then changing the subject. Practice saying no and shutting your front door, or hanging up the phone. Hit the “delete” on that email. Yes, they’ll probably try to argue with you. But you don’t owe them an explanation.

If someone doesn’t respect your “no” the first time, and continues to pressure you? Even if they’re absolutely legitimate, they aren’t the sort of person you want to do business with anyways.

It’s your money, your life savings, your retirement funds. It’s OK to be the “bad guy” and protect yourself.