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March 19-April 2, 2008

Scammers target senior citizens

Warm-up Question:

How do you respond when you hear something that sounds too good to be true?

 

Irene, age 82, entered hundreds of sweepstakes contests that came to her in the mail. Over the course of two years, she had spent thousands of dollars in entry fees, enticed by the promise of winning big money. Irene gets at least 10 mailings a day, many from skill contests, sweepstakes, and questionable charities asking for money. "You should see the stack of mail," her professional caregiver said. "I think they're rotten. They're getting rich on the poor retired people. That's who they target. It isn't that she wants it for herself -- she wants to help everybody.” On a typical day, she receives so much junk mail that it fills a plastic grocery bag. The mail isn’t the only thing. "I've had several phones calls that were definitely bogus," she said. "They say they are the postmaster. We know full well they are not. I still can't believe that they would be so brazen."

"Con" games are those where the perpetrator takes the victim into their confidence. The con artist acts like a friend to gain the victim’s trust, then takes advantage of them. Sometimes it involves pressuring the person to buy expensive things they don't really need, or encouraging them to contribute to "charities" where only a token amount of money winds up actually supporting the advertised causes. Sometimes it involves gaining control of the victim's bank accounts or other assets.

Some victims are too polite to fend off a pushy and persistent telemarketer or door-to-door sales person. Others are too trusting, and don't consider that they may be being lied to or manipulated. Some become victims when they sign papers that they don't understand, not realizing what the fine print means. Others willingly respond to legitimate-sounding requests for personal information such as their Social Security numbers and banking information, and then wind up as victims of identity theft.

Recent studies suggest that senior citizens are particularly vulnerable to being scammed. "Crooks follow the money -- and older people are more likely to have a retirement nest egg and to own their home," said the director of an AARP Fraud Fighter Call Center. The AARP -- previously known as American Association of Retired Persons but now includes people who are not retired -- has begun reaching out to its members with information about how they can protect themselves from being scammed.

Recently, a group of volunteers met to call other AARP members and warn them about the latest scam: con artists posing as Internal Revenue Service officials prying for personal information. "It's best not to give out any information at all. Don't do it," a volunteer told one woman. She reminded her to shred her documents and not to carry her Social Security card in her purse. "So many people don't believe there are bad people," one volunteer said between calls. "They don't believe that people will scam them. It's real."

 

Discussion Questions

  1. What factors make a person -- young or old -- vulnerable to being conned or scammed?

  2. How do you tell the difference between something that is ‘for real’ and something that is a scam, lie, or fake?

  3. How trusting are you? Indicate your answer on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being “not at all trusting” and 10 being “very trusting”. (You can also stand up and form a continuum line from one side of the room to the other and place yourself on it according to your trust level.)

  4. What are the dangers of being too trusting? What are the dangers of not being trusting enough?

  5. What steps could you take if you realize that someone you know (e.g., an older relative or friend) is being targeted by scammers?

  6. What steps can you take to reduce your own risk of being scammed or taken advantage of?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, March 30, 2008.
(Text links are to oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year A at Lectionary Readings.)

Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Psalm 16 (11)
1 Peter 1:3-9
John 20:19-31

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection
 Thomas was not about to be scammed. He’d heard the story from the other disciples about Jesus being raised from the dead, but it sounded too good to be true. “Unless I can see for myself,” he says, “and touch his wounds, I won’t believe” (see John 20:25). Thomas’ doubts arise from a healthy skepticism. He’s willing to believe, but he’s not willing to take the other disciples’ words on blind faith. He does not want to be led astray or get his hopes up, only to have them dashed if their tale turns out to be false.  

Jesus comes to Thomas and the other disciples, who are gathered together behind locked doors. Jesus turns to Thomas and invites him to touch his wounds, to see, to feel, and believe. Jesus does not demand that Thomas believe. Instead, Thomas is drawn into an encounter with the risen Christ, whom he experiences as the living God. Thomas responds with a strong and clear confession of faith: “My Lord and my God,” he says (verse 28).  

Christ does not criticize Thomas for his lack of faith. There is no shame in doubt. Jesus’ words, “do not doubt, but believe,” (verse 27) serve as an encouragement to move from doubt to faith, since they come after Jesus invites Thomas to touch his wounds, and not before. Even the final words in this text, “have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe,” (verse 29) are not meant to be a “slam” against Thomas’ need for verification or proof. Rather, they acknowledge the difficulty of coming to faith.

Given that it was hard enough for Thomas to believe, how much harder -- and how much greater the blessing -- it is for those in later generations (including us), who don’t have access to the kind of first-hand experience that Thomas had. By telling the story of Thomas, in both his doubting and his believing, the writer of John’s Gospel seeks to encourage us in our own experiences of doubt, so that we, like Thomas, may be drawn into a deeper faith in the risen Christ.  

Discussion Questions

  1. In what ways might Thomas’ experience of doubt have actually contributed to his ability to believe?

  2. In what ways can doubt and skepticism be healthy and helpful? In what ways can doubt and skepticism become unhealthy?

  3. If you are comfortable doing so with your group, share your own experience with doubt and faith. What questions or struggles do you have?

  4. What persons or events in your life have shaped your journey of faith? Where do you turn for support when you have questions or doubts?

  5. How can we in the Christian faith community be sensitive and supportive toward those who are struggling with doubts, including each other?

Activity Suggestions

Discussion Starters
Create a list, poster, or big round poster with a spinner with some of the questions of faith your group is comfortable naming. In future meetings or studies, pick a question to use as a starting point for lively discussion, study, or prayer. Invite different people of faith or a pastor to be part of some discussions. Dig through scripture. Write down new questions that pop up. Always affirm that it is OK and normal to have questions, doubts, and hesitations, and that even though God knows the parts of us that are uncertain or doubting, God continues to love us and be present in our lives and world.

Video of Faith Questions
Produce a video made up of brief interviews through which a variety of people -- different ages, genders, ethnic communities, members and nonmembers of the congregation -- offer brief, candid responses to common questions of faith that people have. Be sure to get each person’s permission before video taping their interview. Examples of questions:

  • Where is God? Where does God live?

  • What one question would you ask God if you were promised a revealing,
    truthful answer?

  • What one question would you ask Jesus?

  • What is heaven like? Hell? (Allow for the possibility that a person might reply that they don’t think one or the other exists.)

  • Etc…

Be sure not to produce the video in such a way as to pass judgment on the people interviewed or on their responses or questions. The purpose is to highlight the many questions and doubts we all have as human beings, and that God knows us and loves us -- as Jesus did Thomas -- with all the flaws, questions, and confusion we bring to our faith and life.

End the video with a reading from the Gospels or the story of Thomas that reminds us to trust in God’s love and forgiveness. Romans 8:31-35, 38-39 is another good text to use… not even our doubts, questions, or shaky faith can get in the way of God’s love for us!
 

Closing Prayer
God, we thank you for being patient and loving with us even though we find it hard sometimes to trust you and believe in your presence and love. Please continue to strengthen our faith and trust in you even though we continue to have lots of questions. We pray this in the name of your risen son, Jesus, our very real savior and hope. Amen

Contributed by Pastor Julie A. Kanarr
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Port Angeles, WA

Permission to reproduce for local use. Copyright © 2008 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. ELCA Youth Ministry. 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2447. To offer your comments or responses to Faith Lens, e-mail:  rod.boriack@elca.org.

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