The credit union where I work sees it all. We also communicate with other credit unions across the state to share timely information about the latest scams and make sure everyone knows what to watch for. If a scam starts in northern Maine, there’s a good chance it will eventually make its way south. We do our best to warn members about the latest suspicious texts, emails and phone calls, but inevitably, someone gets caught up in one.

One day, I received a text that triggered a surprisingly strong reaction from me. It appeared to be from Walmart, confirming my preorder for the latest video game system. Gaming is a somewhat controversial subject in my household because those systems come with a hefty price tag. My immediate thought was to log in to our Walmart account to see how much this “purchase” had cost us — which I assumed was going to be shockingly expensive — and then send my husband an angry text.

When I checked our purchase history, there was nothing there. I then checked my digital banking app, and there was no transaction there, either. That’s when it clicked: I had reacted to the panic and fear the text was designed to create. Fortunately, I had not clicked the link in the original message, and I had also double-checked everything before sending that angry text to my husband.

Another great example comes from a 2024 article written by a financial advice columnist for The Cut/New York Magazine. She described falling victim to an Amazon scam call and spending hours on the phone with fraudsters. Eventually, she withdrew $50,000 in cash, put it in a shoebox and handed it over to a stranger. What makes her story so compelling is that she described exactly what she was feeling in the moment — how the scammers created such a sense of panic and urgency that her usual logic and judgment seemed to disappear.

Her story is a powerful reminder that scams don’t just happen to people who are naive, easily fooled and “should have known better.” They can happen to anyone. Scammers know exactly how to push our emotional buttons, and sometimes, all it takes is one moment of panic to make a smart person do something they normally wouldn’t.

Being scammed doesn’t mean you’re gullible, careless or not smart enough to know better. It means you’re human — and scammers are experts at creating a sense of urgency, fear and confusion to make you act before you think.

The best defense is to slow down, take a breath and verify what’s happening before you click a link, make a call, send money or share personal information. And if something does go wrong, don’t let embarrassment keep you from asking for help. The sooner you speak up, the more likely it is that something can be done.

Remember: You’re not too smart to be scammed, but you’re never too smart to stop, question, and double-check and ask for help from an expert.