Being in need is itself a risk factor. In the same way that some people are desperate to make ends meet, other people find ways to pray on those they perceive as less powerful.
Over the past few months, I’ve heard of several alleged financial scams. Many of these scams involved real estate. As deplorable as these allegations are, they do not occur in a vacuum. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) noted that consumers lost nearly $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022, and 2.4 million people filed fraud claims that year.
According to the FTC, “Consumers reported losing more money to investment scams—more than $3.8 billion—than any other category in 2022. That amount more than doubles the amount reported lost in 2021. The second highest reported loss amount came from imposter scams, with losses of $2.6 billion reported, up from $2.4 billion in 2021.”
Upon learning of the scams, I was initially shocked. But as I sat processing the depths that some people will go to accumulate money and power, it dawned on me that greed is a terrible thing. It has an appetite that can never be satiated, driving the possessed person to terrible lengths. And one group of people are particularly vulnerable.
Unfortunately, when people experience financial lack, they are susceptible to exploitation. Being in need is itself a risk factor. In the same way that some people are desperate to make ends meet, other people find ways to pray on those they perceive as less powerful. This may explain why, during times of war, women and children can fall victim to crime. Certainly, these things don’t just occur during times of war. But we know that instability can be a breeding ground for gender-based violence.
Think about natural disasters. During natural disasters, women are more vulnerable, as they are more likely to be displaced, more likely to have responsibilities caring for children, and more likely to experience gender inequality. They are more likely to experience human trafficking and domestic and intimate partner violence as well. So, while natural disasters and national emergencies can evoke grand gestures of kindness, these moments can also spur the worst of human nature.
The lesson for me is that when times are bad, we must be more vigilant, not less. We must be vigilant in who we date, hire, and engage. We can’t assume that every extended hand is a helping hand – some come to deliver harm. Now, let us be clear – there is individual work and collective work. The collective work is for the community to be more watchful and for the government to create more policies that protect the vulnerable. Individual work is to be discerning, to seek God, and to remain alert. If something looks too good to be true, it likely is not true.
Additionally, there are no quick fixes or silver bullets to solve our problems. Investments that boast quick or massive returns should be questioned. Progress takes time. Growing one’s business or wealth takes time. When people appear promising to make you wealthy overnight – or promising a quick fix to a massive problem – please be leery.
Another takeaway is that we must teach and practice contentment. The ubiquitousness of social media has meant that we are living in fish bowls of sorts. We have a veiled window into the lives of neighbors and strangers. But constantly seeing what other people are doing and consuming can lead to discontent. It is imperative that we put blinders on and be content with what we have. We should also assume that much of what we see online isn’t real – there are people who have honed the art of selling dreams. That doesn’t make them more successful than the next person. Even more, so what that a person has or appears to have more than you. Consider the passage of scripture in Psalms 49:16-20, “Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.”
At the end of the day, we are all on a journey to improvement and growth. No one has this thing called life completely figured out.