Our phone rang late in the afternoon. The gentleman caller started by praising the fact that our receptionists had greeted him on the phone with a sincere “Merry Christmas.”

That was nice to hear, but the conversation went downhill very quickly. The caller identified himself as being with a police-related organization we had never heard of and I doubt really exists. When pressed to give us a little more information to validate his position and the true intention of the call, he eventually hung up on us.

People want to give at the holidays. We all want to feel good about helping others, and no time is as special for that feeling as Christmas. But the scammers online or on the phone are also at their greediest now. Not only should we all be on guard for scams of all sorts, but we should help our loved ones, especially the elderly, avoid the potential dangers that come with Christmas spirit.

Encourage them to give through their churches or other organizations they are most familiar with, and stress that they should never give to a person who fails to answer all their questions to their satisfaction. The scammers hate to waste time, so they plow through prospects as quickly as possible, and, if you ask questions, they will look for an easier target.

So, be safe this holiday season and give as you are able, but be careful to whom you give your hard-earned money.

Merry Christmas to all — except those scammers, to whom we give a hearty bah-humbug.

— RV