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Last night, I was watching the evening news (yes, I am 80 years old). On came a story about an elderly man depositing thousands of dollars into a sketchy Bitcoin ATM at a random location. Fortunately, police intervened and did what they could to convince the man it wasn’t actually his bank telling him to do this…it was scammers. Of course, this seems obvious to us, but scams are becoming increasingly complex and convincing.

Scams used to be easy to spot. If someone emailed you claiming to be a Nigerian prince looking for a trustworthy American to help transfer $30 million, you knew something was off.

But today? Scams have evolved. They text. They call. They email. They use AI. They show up in your DMs pretending to be your cousin’s friend’s husband’s chiropractor. They’re everywhere, and the only way to stay safe is to understand what’s out there and be ready with a healthy dose of skepticism.

So this week, let’s talk about how to protect yourself from modern scams: financially, digitally, and emotionally, and without becoming overly paranoid.

The number one rule in 2025: If someone needs money urgently, it’s probably a scam. If someone says they’re from the IRS, it’s always a scam. And if someone calls you “Dear Beloved,” it’s either a scam or you’re in a Nicholas Sparks novel.

Here’s your new reflex:
Whenever you get an unexpected message asking you to click, pay, confirm, update, or send anything… stop. Breathe. Verify.

For example:

The AI voice scams are here, and they’re terrifying. All scammers need is a 10-second clip of your voice, and they can make “you” say anything.

Common AI-voice scams include:

The rule:
Have a phone-free, AI-proof family code word. Something your kids can remember and scammers can’t guess.

Scammers now buy Google ads and outrank the real companies. That means when you search “Delta customer service,” the first link might be a scammer waiting to ask for your credit card number.

To avoid this:

Yes, it’s a pain. Yes, it means you must find your phone every time you want to log into Netflix. But MFA is one of the best ways to protect yourself.

Turn it on for:

You can freeze your credit in five minutes. It’s free. And it stops scammers from opening accounts in your name.

All you have to do is:

A credit freeze is like locking your front door. Monitoring is like standing in the yard watching someone steal your stuff…helpful, but too late.

If you’re being threatened with arrest or rewarded with something amazing, the answer is simple:

It’s a scam. No one is sending you gift cards “for being a loyal customer.” No one is calling you to tell you they’re issuing a warrant. And absolutely no one is mailing you a check you didn’t ask for.

Stop using:

Use a password manager. It creates long, complicated passwords you don’t have to memorize and that scammers can’t guess. Check out LastPass.

Scams tend to follow the same patterns:

If someone ever asks you to pay with gift cards, congratulations, you’ve met a scammer.

Kids overshare online. Parents click everything. It’s a miracle any of us have bank accounts left.

Have quick family training sessions:

As scams become more sophisticated, we all need to work as a team to look out for each other!

If something feels off, it probably is. If the email looks weird, don’t click it. If the caller sounds suspicious, hang up. If the offer feels too good to be true, it’s either a scam… or it’s Costco.

Staying safe from scams doesn’t mean living in fear. It means pausing before you act, doing quick checks, and teaching your family the basics. You’re not becoming a conspiracy theorist, you’re becoming someone who knows better than to hand over money to “Customer Service Representative Kevin,” who is definitely calling from a very sketchy basement.

Little habits make a huge difference. And as always, the goal isn’t perfection, it’s progress. One smart step today protects your future self tomorrow.

(And if anyone texts you asking for gift cards? Tell them to pound sand.)

What tips and tricks did I miss? Let me know and we’ll continue to share this important information!!

Until next time, Villagers,

-Catie

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