A 92-year-old woman from South Carolina named “Bumma” has found a humorous way to deal with relentless scam callers who attempt to fleece her. She engages the scammers in nonsensical conversations until they eventually give up, providing entertainment for herself and her granddaughter. Known for her sound mind and great sense of humor, Bumma enjoys messing with the scammers and getting a good laugh out of it.
Her granddaughter, Cheyenne Toney, captured Bumma’s interactions with scammers in a series of videos in March and April. In one video, Bumma tells a scammer that she doesn’t need the products he is selling because she believes she will be raptured and taken up to heaven soon by Jesus. The scammer quickly hangs up the phone after this unconventional response. In another video, Bumma asks for a senior discount, leading the scammer to accuse her of wasting his time before hanging up in frustration.
During a particularly disturbing call where a scammer tries to convince Bumma that a loved one was arrested and needed bail money, she feigns hysteria and asks for help, despite the lack of funds. The scammer pressures her to send money or her loved one would go to jail, but her dramatic cries force the scammer to eventually hang up. Bumma’s tactics continually prove successful in getting scammers to give up their attempts to defraud her.
Despite Bumma’s ability to outwit scammers, elderly people are often targeted by scam callers looking to take advantage of them financially. In 2022, nearly 70,000 individuals were collectively defrauded of $1.3 billion through romance scams, as reported by the Federal Trade Commission. The prevalence of scam calls highlights the importance of vigilance and awareness, especially among older adults who may be more vulnerable to these fraudulent schemes. Bumma’s humorous approach to dealing with scammers serves as a reminder to stay cautious and find ways to protect oneself from falling victim to such scams.
