Anything too good to be true usually is just that.
Since we’ve had personal e-mail, we’ve “won” or “been given” at least a zillion dollars, if there is such an amount. Not a day passes that we don’t get an e-mail from an unknown person, usually in Africa, informing us of our great fortune. Many of those
corresponding, as if we were on a first name basis, are “dying from an unknown cause.”
Other letters to our attention are said to be from “surviving kin.” A husband, father, mother, uncle or aunt has just passed away and left bushels of money in an estate. Those inheriting it have no clue what to do with the funds, and they need our help in
giving it away. Of course, we can keep a giant chunk of the bundle for assisting with distribution.
Likewise, we’ve been “declared the winner” in hundreds of lotteries. The most suspicious aspect of this is that we’ve never bought a lottery ticket in our life, and we don’t have any intention of ever doing so. Neither have we signed a line, made an X or
pushed a button to enter such things. Yet, we’ve been chosen as a winner, time after time.
Besides those e-mail fraud “opportunities,” daily we receive telephone solicitations to get a free gift, a paid-for vacation, low-rate credit card extensions, the best health
insurance, undercut loans, terrific business investments, and on and on.
Exaggeration of our unsolicited, unsuspected good fortune becomes even more elaborate in some cases, but there’s always that one big catch. To receive the offer, we must respond with private information about ourselves. We haven’t gone any further to know exactly what is wanted, but it is definitely our personal business and nobody
else’s.
Scam artists have been around since the beginning of time, but thanks to modern technology, now they’re more prevalent. Blame is placed on increased costs of everything (except our horses) and distress of the economy. Unfortunately, many people respond to these gimmicks, and instead of winning, they instantly become big losers.
“Free stuff”does exist, but usually it’s a cat, dog or a horse these days. Legitimate gratis offerings of something we really want or need are very few and far between.
“Beware of a wolf in lamb’s clothing” has been sound counsel since Biblical days.
Our security comes in Psalm 21:11: “Although they plot against you, their evil schemes shall never succeed.”Likewise is guidance in Psalm 140:8: “Lord, do not let evil people win. Do not let their evil schemes succeed.” From Job 18:7: “The confident stride of the wicked will be shortened. Their own schemes will be their downfall.”
Best advice is given in Proverbs 13:11: “Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.”
+++ALLELUIA+++