I get about 50 scam calls per day, but I also am phone shy. I won’t answer the phone from any number I don’t recognize. Still, I’ve heard a lot of stories about people falling for scams; for instance, a friend’s mother fell for one where someone overseas was asking her to send money and medical supplies overseas. I know she fell for it all out of loneliness. A woman came into the place I work (at a veterinary hospital) seeking care for her cat. She didn’t have any money because she had gotten scammed out of her life savings. I know scams happen.
The Setup: a story about belonging and trust
While I know scams happen, reading this story had me questioning how people could fall for anything like what happens in this story. It all goes back to the feeling of belonging and trust. In the Scammer, we meet our main character, Jordan. She is a young girl leaving home for university. In her desire to find a place to fit in, she chooses to attend a historically black university– this is against her parents’ wishes; they wanted her to go to Yale. She does find a sense of belonging with her roommates- a group of young women that she instantly likes and they all feel a strong connection. Unfortunately, when a charming sibling of one of the roommates comes to visit, problems start. It’s easier to fall for a scammer if they are connected to someone you trust!
My reading experience
This was a very quick and easy read. Despite feeling a lot of frustration that these obviously intelligent characters would fall for a scammer, the action was very fast paced. I wanted to know what would happen next. I guess the combination of disbelief and curiosity hooked me. I did like the characters and I liked the overall feeling of the story. I also wanted to know how it is that people fall for scams and how this situation would work itself out.
Why people fall for scams
While reading this book, I kept thinking about why people fall for things like this. In this particular book, we had a group of young women who are away from home for the first time. They trust their newly created family and want to fit in and be a part of something. I think this is the heart of the problem. We often want to believe things; we want to believe that people have good intentions. We are often trusting by nature, even if trust is misplaced. Manipulation is about emotions rather than logic. I think that’s ultimately why scammers are often able to trick very intelligent people.
A reminder
The Scammer reminded me that empathy can be both a strength and a weakness. People who fall for scams aren’t dumb, they fall because they are hopeful. The human element of this story is what made this story stay with me after I finished reading. I think it comes back to hopefulness, trust and a desire to see the good in others.
Final Thoughts
I’m still not sure if I feel like this story is believable or not, but I really did enjoy the read. It’s quick and easy and fun.
Have you ever fallen for a scam? Share in the comments!
