According to the State of Scams USA 2025 report, “77% of Americans have encountered a scam in the last 12 months, with an average of 377 encounters per person per year (roughly daily exposure). Seventy-four percent of respondents report scam encounters.” Someone explains, “A scam is a deliberate act of deception designed to trick someone into giving up money, property or other valuables.” Paul warns about being spiritually scammed through “persuasive words” (Colossians 2:4) and through “philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world” (Colossians 2:8). In Colossians 2:16-23, Paul issues a BOLO (be on the lookout) for these three scams.

Be on the lookout for the scam of legalism. This involves doing obsolete things. You must trust the sufficiency of Christ’s finished work on the cross (Colossians 2:11-15) as the source of your righteousness. Colossians 2:16-17 reads, “So let no one judge you in food or in drink or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” Here, Paul addresses the problem of those who attempt to please God in a way that does not please Him. They follow obsolete practices of the law and miss the opportunity to enjoy the liberty of Christ. Thus, they choose the shadow over the substance. You must trust Christ’s provision lest you miss the blessing of His best for your life.

Be on the lookout for the scam of mysticism. This involves distorting absolute things. Colossians 2:18-19 reads, “Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.” You must not allow your imagination to undermine biblical revelation as you hold fast to Christ, the Head of the body.

Be on the lookout for the scam of asceticism. This involves denying legitimate things. Colossians 2:20-23 reads, “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations — ‘Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,’ which all concern things which perish with the using — according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.” You must not attempt to win victory over the flesh by fleshly means, but only by trusting Christ’s victory at Calvary can you enjoy this victory.

Christ is all you need for protection from these scams and to be in Christ is the Christian’s only defense. Are you the victim of a scam?

Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, of Robertsdale, is the author of "Don't Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah.