Because it is our job to believe in human potential, therapists can often get fooled by scams. In this post, I will outline some common scams, and provide tips for avoiding them.
Common Scams
- Co-authoring books. If you receive an email vaguely complimenting you and stating your expertise is required for a chapter in a book, be suspicious. What they are really after is your money: you will be expected to either pay them or buy a certain amount of books.
- Radio shows. You may get a phone call or email about appearing as a guest on a radio show. Sounds great, right? Well, your next question should be: How much will this cost me? It’s likely that you will actually be purchasing radio time, which is very different than being a guest on a show.
- Strangely formatted emails asking for appointments. If the email states how many sessions they want, and how often, be wary. It’s likely a scam. Think about it: how many clients know how many sessions they need?
- Bad checks. If a potential client gives you a check for an amount higher than your fee and then ask for change back, don’t comply. What they are really wanting is to pass a bad check and get some cash out of you.
- People who say they are visiting your area and need a therapist. Again, think about this. How many people would PLAN to see a therapist on vacation? Likely a scam.
General Tips
Be suspicious of:
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- Excessive or vague compliments. This is a blatant appeal to your ego. Don’t let your ego lead you into a scam.
- Requests for procedures outside the norm. If someone wants you to change the way you do business (i.e. accept a large check up front) then you could become the victim of a scam.
In summary, because we are therapists we are trained to believe people. Unfortunately, this makes us more vulnerable to scammers. So, if something seems “off” trust your intuition. It’s OK to be suspicious. If you are unsure, try googling “therapist scams” or checking in with your peer support group. Another great resource is the therapist forums on the Psychology Today website.
Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,
Dr. Barb LoFrisco
