Here's a truth that fits basically everyone: the older we get, the more often folks online (and in real life!) try to scam us. We've seen it happen to friends and neighbors, and now it seems the financial problems of the present are convincing more and more people to try swindling money out of the unwary.
Example: every day I get Medicare junk mail. This is because I'm going to be sixty-five this year and I'm a hot prospect for ANY insurance agent who wants to make money off me. Do they say that in their junk mail? No. They say they want to HELP me. They make this sound like a public service they do out of the goodness of their heart. No, there's nothing in it for them! They claim I'm confused about Medicare and they can explain everything AND they can help me get the coverage I need for the lowest price. Because they're such good people.
Sure. I agree that I'm a befuddled idiot who can't read, and I need you to help yourself to my money. Swindle me!
When someone is offering to help you do something you don't need help with, refuse. Refuse no matter what they promise you. Refuse no matter how good it sounds. Throw out the junk mail. Hang up on the SPAM call. Just say no. That's the simplest way to avoid this sort of scam.
Craft scams are everywhere now, too, thanks to the rise of AI. They aren't going to take over the world and terminate us; they're going to drive legitimate designers out of business while they bury us in crap. Artificially generated images (and patterns) are everywhere online. Here's an AI generated teddy bear I found on Pixabay. Imagine investing in a pattern for this and then making something that doesn't in the slightest resemble it (or even a teddy bear!)
Here's a good rule of thumb when it comes to buying craft patterns of any avriety online: get them exclusively from sources you know and trust, and you'll never have to worry about being AI scammed. Do not believe unrealistic photos that are obviously too perfect like this one. Crafts made by real people are not perfect.
Social media-based scams like the first one detailed in this video by Rachel at The Faded Wildflower Crochet are pretty common now, too. People plead for others to buy something for heart-tugging reasons when they're actually just selling you overpriced drop-shipped junk. Of course a child is involved (I swear, the minute I see a kid associated with any request for support or funds these days I think SCAM.)
If you want to do good, and you don't have a dedicated charity that you regularly donate to, then I'd contribute to a brick and mortar charity in your vicinity. My guy and I support a local church thrift uses among other things their profits to provide free food to the needy in our area. About a week ago we were there and they were giving away for free to anyone who needed them 50 lb. bags of potatoes that a local farm donated. They had palettes of them. Honestly, that's the best way to assure they are the real deal -- when you can see the good work they do in person.
Finally, just use common sense as a rule of thumb when it comes to anything that sounds too good to be true. If it does, it probably is.
Image credit: SCAM image by Jonathan Hammond, teddy bear image by Tatiana Ocampo from Pixabay
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