A Scammer Taught Me a Million-Dollar Lesson: Who’s Your Daddy?

Scamma Dem Deh Ya?

I was almost scammed out of $1,000. Luckily, when it comes to loaning money, I live by the principle: Only lend what you’re willing to lose.

It all started when I reached out to my dad just to check on him. He greeted me warmly, and then—unexpectedly—asked me to loan him $1,000 for a friend. In hindsight, something felt off. But because of past friction in our communication, my judgment was clouded.

Conversations with Pops haven’t always been smooth, so I brushed off my doubts. Plus, I knew my father has a giving heart, even though he’s never asked me for money before.

Still cautious, I sent just $100.

The next day, my sister called me.

“Be careful,” she warned. “Dad’s phone was hacked.”

Turns out, my father had already told my aunt to warn me, but she forgot. When I finally spoke to him, I let him know that the scammer had already gotten $100 from me. His response?

"Cho, learn from that. Dad wouldn't do that."

At first, I was annoyed. I’d rather have wasted my $100 than have been scammed. But after calming down, I realized this experience was a blessing in disguise. This lesson didn’t just save me from future financial loss—it revealed something deeper.

5 Lessons From Being Scammed

1. Know Your Father

When you truly know the character of your father, it’s easy to recognize a counterfeit. If I had been more in tune with my father’s ways, I would have immediately questioned the request. The same goes for our Heavenly Father—when we deeply know Him, we aren’t easily misled.

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." — John 10:27

2. Delayed Messages Cost Others

If my aunt had passed on the warning sooner, I wouldn’t have lost anything. In the same way, when we fail to share God’s truth with others, people suffer more than they should. Someone pays the price for our silence.

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?" — Romans 10:14

3. Pain Can Corrupt Your Perspective

Because of past tensions with my earthly father, I didn’t immediately question the situation. This happens in our faith too. Sometimes, personal wounds distort how we see God. We project our pain onto Him, assuming He won’t come through or that He’s distant—when in reality, He is steady, present, and trustworthy.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." — Psalm 34:18

4. Take Responsibility for Your Losses

It would’ve been easy to blame my aunt, the scammer, or even my father for not warning me sooner. But at the end of the day, I made the decision. Owning our choices, even our mistakes, gives us power. Instead of playing the victim, we grow from the experience.

"Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else." — Galatians 6:4

5. Always Test the Spirit

Not every voice that speaks to you has your best interest at heart. Whether in business, relationships, or faith, we have to discern what’s real and what’s deception. Test the spirit. Ask questions. Seek wisdom before you act.

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God." — 1 John 4:1

Final Thoughts

This small scam could have cost me much more. Instead, it saved me a fortune in future lessons.

So, before you blindly trust a request, whether in the physical or spiritual world—ask yourself:

Who’s your Daddy?

Do you know His voice? His character? His ways?

Because when you do, you won’t be easily deceived.