The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Scammers (and How to Outsmart Them)

On this episode of the Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Cameron Huddleston, Cathy Sikorski and Neil Granger about The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Scammers.

⚠️ The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Scammers

1️⃣ They Trigger Emotion, Not Logic
Scammers know panic overrides reason. They create fear, urgency, or even excitement so you react before you think.
👉 Pause before you act.

2️⃣ They Manufacture Urgency
“Act now or lose everything.” Time pressure kills good decision-making.
👉 Slow down. Nothing legitimate requires instant action.

3️⃣ They Exploit Trust and Loneliness
Romance scams, fake friendships, and long-game relationships all build emotional leverage.
👉 Connection is good — but verify before you trust.

4️⃣ They Isolate You
Scammers tell victims, “Don’t tell anyone.” Isolation keeps control.
👉 Always talk to someone — a friend, advisor, or your bank — before taking action.

5️⃣ They Prey on Greed
 “If you act fast, you’ll make money” or “You owe this fee.” They use emotional hooks to justify financial loss.
 👉 If it sounds too good — or too urgent — it’s a trap.

6️⃣ They Ask for Odd Payment or Access
Non-traceable/vanishing communication channel, gift cards, crypto, wire transfers, or requests to click suspicious links — all red flags.
👉 Legitimate organizations don’t demand untraceable payments.

7️⃣ They Use Just Enough Personal Information
They’ll share partial info (a birthday, last digits, hometown) to appear credible.
👉 Be skeptical — scammers buy leaked data to sound legitimate.

Connect with Cameron Huddleston: 

• Website: http://cameronhuddleston.com/  (here)
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-huddleston-187b633/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cameronkhuddleston/ (here) 

Connect with Cathy Sikorski:

• Website: https://cathysikorski.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathysikorski24/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cathy_sikorski

Connect with Neil Granger:

• Website - http://www.neilgranger.com/
• LinkedIn -  Neil Granger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-granger

Cameron Huddleston is the author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations With Your Parents About Their Finances. She also is an award-winning personal finance journalist. 

Cathy Sikorski , Esq. a Speaker, Elder Lawyer, Author and Media Guest unravels the complex financial and legal problems in the caregiving crisis.

Neil Granger has worked with several District Attorney Offices as a member of their Financial Abuse Specialist Teams and works with the Investigative Unit of the California Department of Insurance.