“I can’t believe I got scammed,” said John Niggeling, after being bilked of $108,000 in a Ponzi scheme.

“Hello Sucker: Think scams happen only to other people?” documents Niggeling’s error in judgment as a feature article in Money magazine this month.

The article claims that one in 10 Americans lost money in a scam last year, and “people with financial education and higher incomes are actually more likely than others to fall for investment scams.”

How do we prevent ourselves from being scammed? What are the signs to watch for and avoid?

Since con artists prey upon greed and lust, the surest way to prevent getting conned is to not lust after money or things. The more our goal in life is to grow spiritually, to live morally, and help others unselfishly, the less likely we are to get scammed.

I remember a retired woman I knew 20 years ago who got scammed of a major portion of her life savings because of a greed for more money. For decades she had made responsible financial decisions, but in a moment of weakness when she lusted after more funds for a pet project, she made a poor decision in hopes of rapidly multiplying her investment. Unfortunately, she learned the hard way that a pure desire for more money blinds reason and perspective to sound judgment.

We don’t have to learn the hard way! We can prevent getting scammed by not lusting after con artist’s wares in the first place.

Jesus Christ gave us the ultimate protection from scammers when he taught,

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” Matthew

The greatest treasures we could ever have cannot be monetized or deposited in a bank account. They are spiritual riches from above that are garnered through consecrated spiritual growth and spiritual mindedness.

When our priority in life is to grow spiritually, we aren’t going to get sidetracked by vain promises of material gain that we aren’t interested in pursuing to begin with.

God meets all needs and in exactly the appropriate ways that bless us most at any given moment.

I love Paul’s promise:

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phillippians

We are already rich with eternal Life and immortal Truth. No amount of money can augment or increase these gifts from above that truly complete and enrich us.

With an understanding of divine wealth already in hand, we can delcare with confidence, “Scammers, be gone! No greed to prey on in this disposition.”