By Roxanne Drury
Trust is a virtue, but in the world of scammers, it can also be a target. Just about everyone on the planet has heard the saying, “If it looks or sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” The scammer hopes that you have not heard it. They also hope you will not check them out and that you will make a rash decision. They use many tactics to entice you to part with your money, such as fear, intimidation, sweet talking, and speaking your language.
How can Christians protect themselves from scam artists? And they ARE artists because every day they come up with new ways to try to trick us into giving them money. Handling endless scam emails and texts requires a combination of modern caution and spiritual discernment. By using the P.R.A.Y. method – Pause, Research, Ask, and Yield – trusting people of God can identify “too-good-to-be-true” offers and avoid making rash, fear-based financial decisions.
As I learned recently, some of the things we do every day are our best defense. As a writer, I receive solicitations nearly daily from literary agents, publishers, editors, website designers, you name it. They sing the praises of my books, using language directly from Amazon reviews. Do they think I don’t read the reviews? Some of the offers look legit, until I read the last paragraph. “Our services will only cost you $1,300. How do you want to pay for that?” Not today, buddy!
This week, I received an email from a Christian readers’ group. The writer wanted to feature one of my devotional books in the 2026 Challenge. (Isn’t 2026 half over?) She was very gentle in her approach. She asked permission to send me more info, and I said sure. She said my book would be a blessing to readers – (isn’t that what my goal has been for my books?) – and that readers would purchase it using whatever link I provided (she was not profiting in any way).
She answered every question I had. And if you know me at all, you know I am a question-asker, but I am also a researcher. She, in fact, welcomed my questions. She told me in one of the several emails we exchanged that there is no website because the group is on Facebook and by invitation only. In her explanation of how the program works, she informed me that it would cost me $135 to feature my book. Everything seemed on the up and up, but… I had this little niggle in my brain that wouldn’t go away. So, I paused and kept her waiting while I prayed about it. As I was praying, the thought crossed my mind that if this were a Facebook Group, I should be able to find it and check out some of the information she gave me. Let me just say here: God is so good! And, best advice ever – listen to the niggles!
So, I put my researcher hat on and immediately searched Facebook using the name of the group the emailer had given me. It brought up a readers’ group with the same name. The most recent post was made by a Christian author I greatly admire. It was also the last post, and it was posted a year ago. Her post indicated that the “Challenge” was a scam. Let me say again: God is so good! And God does answer prayer!
Now, you may be someone who saw all the red flags in this exchange. I failed to see them until later. But that is how a scam artist works – they play on a person’s hopes and dreams. The devil doesn’t always come with horns; sometimes he comes with a “too-good-to-be-true offer” and a gentle, encouraging email.
Here is what I learned from this experience: We have the tools and resources we need to protect ourselves from scammers in the form of an acronym: P.R.A.Y.
The P.R.A.Y. survival guide can help you identify a scammer from the real deal by combining modern caution with spiritual discernment. Having just experienced this, I suggest a “Pause and Pray” approach to verify the source, ask questions, and seek wisdom before sharing personal information, parting with money, or committing.
My final email to the scammer was a simple, “No thank you. I am not interested.” Her response was “Bummer.” I’ll bet it was a bummer – for her!
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” – Romans 8:31
Roxanne Drury is a wife, mother, grandmother, and retired Christian preschool teacher who served the Lord in children’s ministry for over 45 years. She has written a group study guide on Psalm 23, as well as other books. She may be reached at glorylandbooks@gmail.com.
