Page 16 - NBY News October 2020

“Holiday Hoax - Psychological Tricks of Fraud” BRIDGE BITES
Bridge Bites is sponsored by the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL). ACBL’s
By Dr.Sherry McCoy, PhD seductively — nice and sweet, comforting, Marketing Director, Vicki Campbell promotes Bridge Bites in the United States and
Stop Senior Scams! Acting Program* calm, confident, reassuring. They ask Canada. NBY! provides a way to reach the bridge players of Southern California. It
questions that are designed to trigger a encourages participation in duplicate bridge. There are dozens of bridge clubs in the
Stop Senior heightened emotional response. They get area and they welcome players of every skill and experience level- many provide
lessons for newcomers to the game. Enjoy a engaging, stimulating game in a friendly
Scams from you to open up and share personal info and social environment somewhere close by.
with them. And then, once you’re
Happening hooked, they pounce on your panic Visit www.acbl.org and search the Club Directory to find a group near you.
buttons!
“PSYCHOLOGICAL
TRICKS PANIC “BUTTONS” – SCARCITY,
FRAUDSTERS USE URGENCY, FLATTERY
TO RIP-US-OFF!” Most scammers use a combination of
Dr. Sherry McCoy, PhD – Stop Senior scarcity, urgency, and flattery to lure you
Scams ! Acting Program into their phony schemes. For example,
they say the deal they’re offering is
Welcome to October 2020! available for a limited time only; or “If
Traditionally, this is the time of year for you don’t act now, you’ll lose out.” “A
carved out pumpkins on doorsteps and smart person like yourself should jump at
kids dressed up in costumes going door- this once in a lifetime opportunity!” All
to-door for “tricks or treats” on these tactics are designed to pressure you
Halloween. Given that we are still in the into acting quickly, against your better
midst of a world-wide pandemic, judgement. If you were not under the
however, it’s unlikely that Halloween will ether, you would stop and think before
be celebrated this year in a “business as you act.
usual” sort of way. But what will be
“business as usual” during the Halloween FEAR, INTIMIDATION,
kick-off of the 2020 holiday season is AGGRESSION
FRAUD. You can count on that. If the con artist has tried to get you
Halloween is considered by many to be under the spell of the ether and jumped on
the “spooky start to online fraud season.” your panic buttons, but you still aren’t
(1) Sadly, the holiday season brings with falling for the fraudulent scheme, things
it an increase in fraudulent activity. For often escalate. He will use more
example, ACI Worldwide benchmark data aggressive means to try make you fall in
revealed that online fraud attempts line. It’s not unheard of for scammers to
increased 22% during the holiday make threatening, abusive phone calls to
shopping season of 2017. (2) There’s no try and force their victims into buying
reason to believe that 2020 will be any their fraudulent products / services.
different. So, let’s prepare ourselves. Let’s
take a look at what tools – tricks of OUR BEST DEFENSE
psychological manipulation – the con In short, scammers try to seduce us into
artists use to try and separate us from our buying their lies. Lies, after all, is what
hard-earned cash and our wellbeing. they are selling. In order to do this, they
Consulting “SCAM ME IF YOU CAN: play upon our fears and cater to our
Simple Strategies to Outsmart Today’s Rip- dreams, fantasies and illusions. What is
Off Artists” by Frank W. Abagnale (author our best line of defense against the
of #1 New York Times bestseller “CATCH onslaught of scammer lies? The short
ME IF YOU CAN”) is a good place to start. answer to that question is “Self-
What better authority can you have than a Knowledge.” That, of course, is a life-
reformed con artist who’s been there and long journey. But we can begin now,
done that? He knows well the today, by learning to practice Los Angeles County District Attorney’s
psychological manipulation tricks of the discernment. Be true to yourself. Honor office online at http://da.lacounty.gov// Remember: You may be a target, but
trade. Below are some highlights from yourself. Pay attention to that still small or phone (213) 974-3512. you don’t have to be a victim!
what Mr. Abagnale has to say about the voice inside you. Remember — If
predatory techniques used by fraudsters. something sounds too good to be true, it (1) https:// Dr. Sherry McCoy, PhD, is a freelance
probably is. www.businesswire.com/news/home/ writer & actor for the Stop Senior Scams
UNDER THE ETHER 20181030005564/en/Instart-Halloween- ! Acting Program (SSSAP) in Los
First and foremost, the fraudster’s goal WHERE TO REPORT SCAMS Spooky-Start-Online-Fraud-Season Angeles. SAVE THE DATE – On
is to get the target “under the ether.” What If you receive a suspicious call, just November 8 , SSSAP will be
th
this means is that the scammer needs to hang up and call the U.S. Senate’s Special (2) https:// participating in the “Virtual Westside
create an atmosphere of trust, and perhaps Committee on Aging’s Fraud Hotline at 1- www.businesswire.com/news/home/ Safety and Preparedness Fair.” More
even infatuation, in order to draw in 855-303-0470. You may also report scams 20180115005189/en/U.S.-Online-Fraud- details to follow in the November 2020
victims when presenting their fraudulent to the Federal Trade Commission at 877- Attempts-Increase-22-Percent issue of NBY! For more information,
sales pitches. Once the target is under the 382-4357 or https:// please contact Adrienne Omansky at
hypnotic-like spell of the “ether,” it makes www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ SSSAP4U@gmail.com. Follow SSSAP on
it hard for her / him to think rationally or #crnt&panel1-1. If you have questions (3) “SCAM ME IF YOU CAN,” Frank Facebook at https://
make sensible decisions. “[A] good con about Medicare fraud / abuse or believe W. Abagnale, copyright 2019 by www.facebook.com/SSSAP2016/
should always try to keep the victim in the you have been the victim of Medicare AARP, pg. 36. ?fref=ts. Questions for the writer
altitude of the ether, because once they fraud, please contact the Senior Medicare STOP SENIOR SCAMS ! ACTING should be directed to “Dear Sherry” at
drop into the valley of logic, [you’ve] lost Patrol (SMP) at 1-855-613-7080. For more PROGRAM is on YOUTUBE! See PAGE Not Born Yesterday! P.O. Box 722, Brea,
them.” (3) How do scammers induce this info regarding California SMP, go to CA 92822 or nbynews@juno.com.
false state of security? First, by talking www.cahealthadvocates.org. Contact the 10 FOR DETAILS AND LISTINGS.

16 October 2020