Not outsmarted but outfelt

A college professor outlined, at length, the nature of a rather brutal mid-term exam. He concluded his remarks by asking if anyone had any questions regarding the exam.

- FRANCIS J. KONG

For several minutes, the class sat in stunned silence, each wondering if anyone could pass such a test. Finally, one brave soul asked, "Do you accept bribes?" Looks like the kid has the full potential to become a full-time scammer.

Most of us like to believe we could never be scammed. We often envision con artists as shady figures in trench coats, selling fake Rolexes on street corners or strangers calling from an untraceable number, asking for our bank details. We tell ourselves, "I'm too smart for that."

But investigative podcaster Johnathan Walton, author of "Anatomy of a Con Artist," tells a different story. He knows firsthand that scammers don't always appear to be strangers. They can resemble friends, neighbors, or even family. He himself was conned out of nearly $100,000 not by a slick salesman, but by someone he considered his sister.

And that's the most frightening part—because con artists don't outsmart you; they out-feel you.

Walton explains that professional scammers bypass your logic and target your emotions directly. They look for your vulnerabilities—like loneliness, loss, financial stress, or the desire to belong—and then weaponize those emotions against you.

He bonded with the con artist because they both shared the pain of being disowned by their families. That became the hook. She masqueraded as a damsel in distress with an inheritance at risk. Walton, moved by compassion, stepped in to help.