Have You Ever Been Cheated Out of Money?

By in Bible & Money
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There are many stories out there about how people have been cheated out of money.  Just Google “cheated out of money” and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Here are a some of the results I found:

  • Lawsuit claims county school drivers cheated out of money
  • Customers cheated out of money
  • Firms cheated out of thousands in money
  • So-called friend cheated me out of money
  • Did the car dealership just cheat me out of money?

When you’re cheated out of money you naturally may feel anger, or resentment.  But a devotion from Crown Financial Ministries this week reminds us we can be free to let go of such feelings:

Too often we harbor resentment in our hearts when someone offends or cheats us. The reason the Lord tells us that revenge belongs to Him is so we can be free of resentment, anger, and frustration, as well as the need for getting even. “Do not fret because of evildoers, or be envious of the wicked; For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.’”  (Proverbs 24:19 NASB, Hebrews 10:30 NASB).

Here are some thoughts about this devotion and what to do if you are cheated out of money:

  • You should never try to seek revenge.  Doing so will only make matters worse.
  • If you’ve been cheated by a friend or someone you know, confront them, but with a kind heart.  Sometimes what may seem like an act of cheating could be a mistake.  For example, somone owes you $50 over a dinner bill and only pays $40.  Or, you might just consider letting it go if the matter is small and if it could cause friction in your relationship. 
  • Report the theft.  If it’s a credit or check card that’s been stolen, contact your bank immediately.  Have them freeze the account and make sure you can tell them which transactions are fraudulent. 
  • If you’ve been cheated by a business, don’t threaten or take action on your own.  Report the business to the Better Business Bureau and contact authorities if you’ve witnessed illegal acts.
  • Don’t forget to check your credit report [annualcreditreport.com provides a free credit report from each of the 3 credit bureaus once per year] to stay on top of any fraudulent activity that could impact your credit score.
  • Pray and have comfort in knowing God is always in control of the situation.

Have you ever been cheated out of money?  If so, how did you handle the situation?

About Jason

Hi, I'm Jason and I started One Money Design over 2 years ago with a passion to help people make progress along their journey to true financial freedom. I've worked as a volunteer financial coach for over 5 years providing people practical financial tips and helping them apply Biblical stewardship principles to their finances. I enjoy spending time with my wife and two children and learning more about personal money management every day. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Google +
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  • http://www.moneycrashers.com Andrew

    Yeah, I think the most important thing to do if you’ve been scammed is to report it immediately! This way, the proper authorities can track things down while they’re still “hot” and you’re more likely to get your money back.

    It’s a scary life out there with so much financial technology these days. And of course with creative people like Bernie Madoff.

    • http://www.onemoneydesign.com Jason Price

      I agree, Andrew. The worst thing you could do is not reporting fraudulent activity immediatley, especially if it involves your credit card or checking card. I probably should have mentioned some tips to be proactive in avoiding such activity. For me, it’s watching our accounts daily (I do this through Mvelopes Personal) to mostly stay on top of spending. However, I’ll know almost immediately if someone is using our debit or credit card.