When we are tired, we are susceptible to deception. As much as you feel you are armed and ready to spot a scam, this isn’t always true when you’re tired, multitasking, stressed or just overwhelmed with life. Even the most astute individuals can fall prey to scams when their cognitive abilities are temporarily compromised. Research indicates that factors like age, disabilities, and general stress can increase vulnerability.

If the scammer can gleam from social media that your life is stressed, they know it is a suitable time to attack. When we are worried, scared, nervous or just uncertain about the future, we have a natural tendency to believe what we are told, a phenomenon known as "truth bias." Our brains are wired to accept information as true initially, and we are often too busy to take the extra effort to question its validity. Scammers exploit this by presenting their claims in a way that seems plausible, making it easier for us to accept them without critical thought. They also use authority and social pressure to their advantage, impersonating trusted figures or creating a sense of urgency to bypass our defenses. For example, they might pose as a bank representative and pressure you to act immediately to prevent an account closure.

To protect ourselves, we need to follow three rules: 1) Do not react immediately out of fear 2) Do not try to discern the situation when alone and stressed 3) Always cultivate healthy skepticism.
When encountering unsolicited offers or requests for personal information, always verify the source of any communication. Pause, breath and come back to it tomorrow. Always use the phrase “I’ll get back to you” if a person is on the phone pressuring you. Do not hesitate to consult with trusted friends or family members when something feels suspicious. Especially if those friends are not as strained as you. They can help you evaluate the solicitation and make decisions without the influence of fear. And never trust anyone that reaches out to you. If you did not initiate the dialog, then do not trust it.
It is important to remember that anyone can be targeted for a scam. Falling for one does not reflect poorly on your intelligence or character but it is important that you take the time to calmly assess the solicitations, realize when your own discerning skills may be compromised, and ensure you remove fear and panic from your thought process.

And do not forget! Technically, implementing security measures like two-factor authentication always provides an additional layer of protection. All emails, bank accounts, and medical accounts need to have two-factor authentication implemented, no exceptions.