FAMILY, PHISHING, FRAUD, AND FINANCIAL RUIN

The Pop-Up That Cost Her Everything: How Mom Fell Victim to a Scam

A cautionary tale about scams and the vulnerability of our parents

Photo by Kanchanara on Unsplash

I still can’t stop shaking my head when I think about it.

It happened while my wife and I were vacationing in Amsterdam. We were at the tail end of our eight-day Paris/Amsterdam trip when I called my mom on the day before our departure.

Saturday

Mom: Hello?
Me: Hey. I wanted to remind you that Ash will be coming home tomorrow so I need you to be there.

Our youngest daughter, Ash, spent the week at her dad’s house while we traveled Europe. He would bring her home on the day we returned, but since we were not expected to get home until late, my mom agreed to be there for her.

Mom: Yep. I know. I’ll be there and we will probably go to dinner.
Me: Okay, thank you. Love you and see you tomorrow.
Mom: Love you too and have a safe trip.

The call ended. Nothing was out of the ordinary. There was no tone or inflection in my mom’s voice to indicate anything concerning.