I have never seen a time when there are so many scams out there. Its like everyday you have to take time to deal with them, whether to erase Facebook inboxes from scammers pretending to be some pretty young girl telling you in the message how fine you are or something similiar.

And then almost daily phone calls from scammers who are using your neighbors phone number and caller ID with a recorded message for something. And then emails inviting you to humanitarian or sex-traffing events at the UN or some other agency. It goes on and on.

Scammers putting up counterfeit Facebook pages of me, and then asking for money for orphanages in a developing country. I am sick of it.

Another scammer is targeting immigrants playing like they are the IRS Criminal Fraud Division saying there is a warrant for your arrest in the recording, and if you don’t call them back, the police will arrest you. Somehow, I got on their list, and had to deal with that. If you call back, they will try to intimidate you to send them money for “back taxes” via a debit or credit card or be arrested. Of course that can instill terrible fear in a new immigrant.

And there are so many out there. A new one coming from Nigerians based out of Malaysia was on the news the other day. They have hacked into Christian dating websites mining information, and then targeting women looking for romance and a husband. It is usually older women with money who are targeted. And sooner or later, they get them to send them their life savings because they say their business is in trouble, or they have an investment opportunity. Some women have been cheated out of up to $300,000. Really sad!

Bottom line is, YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE!!! Check everything out! Ask plenty of questions. Put on a detective hat and go on Google and search it out. If 2+2 does not come up 4 – you will know something is wrong. DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO GET SCAMMED.

If it sounds too good to be true, sometimes it may be. Don’t allow your emotional vulnerability to make you a statistic. These people are slick. They have gotten more and more sophisticated with technology. But with Google – and asking the right questions when you research, and asking the Holy Spirit to expose darkness, you will find out if it is a scam.

This is reaching epidemic proportions, and I felt I need to warn my Facebook friends. Now there are valid ministers from developing oversees nations that are looking for genuine ministry partnerships. If you are led to connect, just do some simple due diligence. And then call them also, and ask the right questions about their life, their walk with Christ, their ministry, etc. You will discern from the Holy Spirit if they are authentic or not.

Facebook, and all social media can be a great way to network and connect with people. But it can also be a way to get scammed. Just remember to do your due diligence and research. Don’t become a statistic.

The discerning of spirits is a gift in you by the Holy Spirit that can be activated by faith to protect you. With it you can discern God’s Holy Spirit, the spirit of man, and demonic spirits. Trust the Spirit to lead and guide you.