MiClase’s True Stories — Level 3 Too Good To Be True: Modern Scams

Read the Story

Rosa is a nursing assistant in Chicago. One Tuesday afternoon, her phone buzzes. The caller ID says “Cook County Sheriff.” A serious voice tells her, “Your nephew Luis caused an accident. He’s injured and needs money now for treatment. Don’t hang up, and don’t tell anyone. We’ll tell you where to send the payment.” Rosa hears a young man crying in the background. Her heart races.

Rosa almost reaches for her wallet, but she remembers a class story about virtual kidnapping and grandparent scams: criminals pretend to have a loved one and demand fast payment by wire, crypto, or gift cards. She hangs up and calls Luis’s mother. Luis is safe at school. These calls are designed to keep you on the line and pressure you to pay immediately.

That evening, Mark gets an email that looks like it’s from his bank. The logo is perfect. The message says, “Unusual sign-in attempt. Confirm your account in 30 minutes or it will be locked.” There’s a button: “Verify Now.” Mark doesn’t click. He opens a new browser tab and signs in the usual way. No alerts. He forwards the suspicious email to the bank’s fraud address.

Two days later, Rosa receives a text “from the IRS” about a “special refund.” It asks her to click a shortened link and enter her Social Security number. She laughs. She knows the IRS doesn’t start contact by text, email, or social media to ask for personal information. She deletes the text and checks the IRS website for scam alerts.

On Friday, Mark’s aunt gets a call: “Auntie, it’s me. I need bail money. Please don’t tell Mom.” The voice is shaky, and it sounds exactly like her nephew. She’s told to buy gift cards and read the numbers over the phone. Auntie pauses. Her family has a secret safe word, so she asks for it. The caller hangs up. When she calls her nephew directly, he’s at work, perfectly fine.

At week’s end, the community center hosts a safety talk. The speaker explains that scammers can now use AI to clone a person’s voice from just a few seconds of video posted online. She also shares some numbers: in 2025, Americans reported losing almost $21 billion to internet crime to the FBI, a record, and imposter scams were the most reported type of fraud to the FTC for the fifth year in a row. Older adults are often targeted. The group practices how to respond: slow down, verify using a trusted number, never pay with gift cards or crypto for emergencies, and report scams to official websites.

Key signals: pressure + secrecy + unusual payment (gift cards, crypto, wire). Don’t trust caller ID, display names, or even a familiar voice. Verify using a number or website you find yourself.
MiClase.org Link List
🧠 Vocabulary — Matching A (scam terms)

Tap a term on the left, then tap its definition on the right.

🧠 Vocabulary — Matching B (everyday words)

Tap a word on the left, then tap its definition on the right.

📖 Vocabulary in Context

Tap a blank, then tap a word, or just type. Each word is used once.

    ❓ Multiple Choice
    ✍️ Cloze — Staying Safe

    Tap a blank, then tap a word, or just type. Each word is used once.

    ✔️ True / False (explain why)

    Choose True or False. Then write a short reason.

    🔢 Sequencing A & B

    Use the ↑ and ↓ buttons to put the steps in the best order.

    A — A scary call about a family member

      B — You clicked a bad link

        🛡️ “For Example” — Turn risky messages into safe plans

        Read each message. Write what you would do. Then compare with the sample plan.

        💬 Discussion / Writing & Role-Play

        Discussion / Writing

        • Describe a suspicious message you’ve seen. What signals told you it was a scam?
        • Why do scammers push for secrecy and speed?
        • Does your family have a safe word? Would you create one? Why or why not?
        • Write a short PSA with three steps to stop a scam in your community.

        Role-Play (read in groups of five)

        1. Caller: “This is urgent. Your nephew is hurt. Buy gift cards now.”
        2. Rosa: “I’m ending this call. I will verify with my family directly.”
        3. Moderator: “Did you notice the pressure and secrecy?”
        4. Mark: “My bank email says ‘confirm your password.’ I’ll use the bank app instead.”
        5. Bank Rep: “We never ask you to confirm a password by email.”
        6. Auntie: “Someone who sounds like my nephew wants bail money. What’s our safe word?”
        7. Caller: “No time for that. Stay on the line!”
        8. Auntie: “Goodbye. I’m calling him myself.”
        9. Moderator: “What payment method did they demand?”
        10. Rosa: “Gift cards. That’s a big red flag.”
        11. Bank Rep: “Never share one-time codes or your PIN.”
        12. Mark: “If I clicked, I should change my passwords, turn on 2FA, and report it.”
        13. Moderator: “Exactly. Report it to your bank, the FTC, and IC3.”
        14. Rosa: “And remember: caller ID can be spoofed, and voices can be cloned.”
        15. All: “Slow down. Verify. Report.”
        📌 Quick Reference & Sources

        Quick Reference

        • Don’t trust caller ID, surprise links, or even a familiar voice.
        • No gift cards, crypto, or wire transfers for “emergencies.”
        • Type websites yourself. Verify with a number you already know.
        • Agree on a family safe word.
        • Report scams: reportfraud.ftc.gov (all scams) and ic3.gov (internet crimes).

        Sources (for the teacher)