A FEW days ago, I was inside a local coffee shop when I couldn’t help but listen to an animated tête-à-tête at the next table. The women were talking about a medical doctor who’d been talked into investing a huge amount of money, only to find out later it was all a scam. They also mentioned a banker from Cebu who thought she was buying nearly a million pesos’ worth of fine jewelry, only to discover the pieces were fakes.
I sat there, half-listening, half-sipping my coffee, and I couldn’t help but think: How is this still happening? How do smart, educated people—professionals! —still fall for scams?
These aren’t folks from the far-flung provinces with no access to information. These are city dwellers, business owners, people with degrees, financial know-how, and social awareness. So, what gives? Is it naiveté? Wishful thinking? Stupidity?
Let’s talk about it—because the truth is, while it’s easy to judge those who get scammed, many of us are more vulnerable than we’d like to admit. Even here in Dumaguete, there’s no shortage of stories: professionals losing money to fake investments, businesspeople tricked by sweet-talking salesmen, retirees giving away life savings after one convincing phone call. So why do we fall for it?
We trust too easily
Most of us want to believe the best in people. If someone speaks our dialect, knows someone we know, or shares something personal that feels familiar, we start to feel a connection. Psychologists call it the similarity principle—we trust those who seem like us.
But that sense of kinship? It can be carefully manufactured. A scammer only needs a few details—maybe from your social media—to make the whole thing feel real. If it all seems too perfect, that’s a red flag. Pause. Ask questions.
We’re caught at our lowest
Scammers have a sixth sense for timing. They know when people are vulnerable—after a job loss, during a health scare, or while dealing with the financial hit from a pandemic. In these moments, even the most rational people are desperate for a solution.
So when someone offers a quick fix, a miracle cure, or a “risk-free” investment, we want to believe it’s true. Especially if it just takes a small deposit… or a signature. That’s your cue to slow down. Breathe. Think twice.
We let emotions take over
When we’re anxious or scared, we don’t always think clearly. Imagine a parent with a sick child, or someone facing a terminal diagnosis. If someone comes along offering a miracle remedy—how do you say no?
That’s exactly what scammers count on. They prey on our fear and our hope. And families have gone bankrupt chasing a false promise of healing.
We follow the crowd
There’s comfort in numbers. If a friend joins a “networking” scheme and suddenly starts posting luxury photos and talking about early retirement, it’s tempting to jump in too.
But just because everyone is doing it doesn’t make it right—or legal. Many scams rely on herd mentality. They look successful because others are buying in… until the whole thing collapses.
We want the shortcut
At the end of the day, we all want to get ahead. And if someone offers a way to earn big without working hard? That’s hard to resist.
That’s why scams often promise “easy money,” “guaranteed returns,” or “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunities. But here’s the truth — If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And I’d say 99% of the time—it absolutely is.
A final thought
Getting scammed doesn’t mean you’re stupid. It means you’re human.
You wanted something better—more stability, less stress, maybe just a bit of relief. That’s natural. But in today’s world, we have to be more than hopeful. We have to be careful.
So, the next time someone comes to you with an unbelievable offer, ask yourself — What’s in it for them? Who really benefits?
Because hope is important. But discernment? That’s what protects us.
