Replies

She was SURE that what she was told was true.

F. I. F. E.

The other day I was listening to a financial advice program on the radio. The host and guest speaker were issuing warnings about investment schemes and how to recognize them.

The guest speaker used an acronym to remember the methods or approaches used by those who will try to lure someone into a scheme that will actually steal their money.

Think of F.I.F.E. - not Deputy Barney - but just as easy to remember.

"F" is for FEAR. The schemer will try to use fear to get people to fall for his plot. The uncertainty in the economy at this time is helping out these liars. They will mention how bad the stock market is and how much money people are losing. And then they use people's fear of having nothing left for retirement to get them to "invest" in a "sure thing". Ironicallly, these same deceivers present themselves as trustworthy.

"I" is for INSULT or INTIMIDATION. The schemer presenting his deceitful "investment" will either insult the person or use intimidation. If the person appears reluctant, the liar will make it sound as though only those who are really intelligent can have enough sense to recognize what a good deal the plan is. The liar might say something like, "You don't have to check with your spouse to make this kind of investment, do you?" Or he will limit the amount of time a person has to respond to try to intimidate him into falling for his plot. He might say, "This offer is only good for today."

"F" is for FLATTERY. One way to trap some people is by telling them how smart they are for recognizing such a good deal. Or they may be complemented on their clothes or car or house or behavior of their children, or any other complement that is handy. The point is for the crook to make the person feel smart and good about himself so he will lower his guard. So the schemer will find all kinds of disingenuous ways to flatter the person he has targeted. He doesn't mean a word of it. It is only a means of getting the person to think he is more discerning that he really is.

"E" is for EXCLUSIVITY. The crook will tell the person he is trying to deceive that the offer is limited only to people who are part of a certain group - a nationality, or club, or family background, or political affiliation, or heritage, or religion, or college alumni, or whatever. This plot is to make them feel special and chosen so that they believe they have something only a few other select people have. This approach plays on people's desire to be different and somehow "better" than the common investor.

Watch out for these type of approaches and ways to deceive you out of your money.

THE DEVIL'S F. I. F. E.

Perhaps you have already thought of the ways the devil uses the same types of methods to tempt us into sinning.

The devil is an expert at F. I. F. E.

Consider how the devil tempted Adam and Eve.

The devil approached Eve in a way that was appealing, not repulsive.

In a way, the devil used intimidation. He asked Eve, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden?' " Genesis 3:1 The devil made Eve question whether or not she heard God correctly. He made it sound as though she might be considered stupid for misunderstanding God.

On the other hand, he made Eve feel smart for taking the fruit by accepting what the devil said, "You surely will not die. For God knows when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, . . " Genesis 3:4-5 He used flattery.

He told Eve that she would become part of an very exclusive group - just her and God. " 'You will be like God', the devil said." Genesis 3:5 She would be very special.

And consider how the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness.

The devil approached Jesus when He was weak and hungry, not having eaten for 40 days. The devil used the fear of starving to try to get Jesus to turn the stones into bread. "The temptor came to Jesus and said, 'If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.' " Matthew 4:3

The devil used the same ocassion to flatter Jesus by telling Him He could do anything He chose to do, inlcuding turn stones into bread.