Marija Petrović | 7 Aug 2026

After a deceptive encounter, an ordinary phone call can feel different. An unfamiliar number creates hesitation. A helpful message raises questions. A request from someone apparently trustworthy becomes difficult to assess.

Public conversations about fraud often focus on money: how much was requested, whether anything was transferred and whether a loss could be recovered. These questions matter. Yet deception can also unsettle a person’s confidence in the relationships and services that form part of everyday life.

Understanding this possibility gives families, educators and community organisations a broader perspective on what support may involve.

When uncertainty follows the incident

Recognising a deception does not necessarily resolve every question it leaves behind. A person may wonder why a story seemed convincing or whether they can trust their own judgement in the future.

That uncertainty can enter situations unrelated to the original incident. Someone deceived by a caller impersonating an institution may become reluctant to answer legitimate calls. Another person may avoid a digital service because it reminds them of the interaction.

Such responses are understandable attempts to prevent a repetition. They also deserve attention when they begin to restrict activities the person values.

A useful conversation asks which situations now feel difficult and what would make them more manageable. This leaves room for the person to describe their experience without assuming that everyone responds in the same way.

The importance of the first response

When someone discloses fraud, the listener’s reaction can influence what happens next. Criticism may reinforce the person’s doubts about their judgement. Dismissing their concern can make it harder to explain why an apparently small incident continues to trouble them.

Listening carefully creates a different opportunity. The person can describe both the event and its effect on daily life. They may want practical assistance, reassurance about a particular task or simply time to make sense of what happened.

Support becomes more relevant when these needs are heard rather than decided in advance.

Rebuilding confidence through manageable steps

A return to familiar activities does not need to happen all at once. Someone uncertain about an online service may prefer to use it initially with a trusted person present. Another may want to understand a particular verification process before answering similar requests again.

These steps can connect confidence with understanding. The person has an opportunity to see how a check works, ask questions and remain involved in the decision.

The pace should reflect their preferences. Pressure to “move on” can overlook the uncertainty they are still experiencing, while taking over every task can reduce opportunities to regain independence.

A helpful approach offers support that can be adjusted as the person becomes more comfortable.

Relationships as a source of reassurance

Trusted relationships provide more than immediate assistance. They can offer a setting in which uncertainty is acceptable.

A person who knows they can ask about a message without being ridiculed has somewhere to turn before deciding how to respond. A community group that welcomes questions can make unfamiliar situations easier to discuss.

This places a responsibility on those offering reassurance. Advice should be clear about what is known, and uncertainty should be acknowledged. Confident guesses can create new confusion. Looking at a situation together and identifying an appropriate source of help may be more useful than supplying an immediate answer.

Preserving participation

For organisations concerned with social inclusion, the wider issue is whether people can continue accessing the relationships, information and opportunities they value.

Fraud awareness activities should therefore consider what their messages encourage people to do afterwards. An explanation that increases fear without offering a usable response may leave someone less willing to participate. Practical guidance should help people navigate uncertainty while retaining room for ordinary communication.

Confidence can be supported through clear procedures, patient explanations and relationships in which questions are welcome. These give people ways to approach a situation without having to rely on either unquestioning acceptance or constant suspicion.

The effects of deception may extend beyond the original exchange. Responding with dignity and attention to everyday life can help ensure that the experience does not define the person’s future relationships.

The blog entry is part of the “ODYSSEY – Your Financial Security” project, financed by the European Commission.