The con artists were thrilled when a frail ninety-year-old lady answered the door. But then a huge dog named Buster appeared behind her.
Edith Baker was an ancient woman by age, but quite modern in her ways. At ninety, she chatted with her grandkids on Skype and paid her bills online. “Why waste time standing in line at the post office?” she would say.
Edith lost her husband twelve years ago. The only living companion brightening her days was an equally elderly dog named Buster—a peculiar nickname her husband had once given the dog.
Every morning and evening, the locals would see Edith, leisurely walking with a cane in one hand and Buster’s leash in the other. The leash was more for show, as Buster had never bitten anyone in his life, though he looked intimidating, especially in his youth.
Edith was well aware that elderly and solitary people often fell victim to scammers. Her grandkids warned her first, then the community officer, and she also read about such cases online. A couple of months ago, a friend called her in tears, telling her that con artists had swindled her out of her savings.
So when the doorbell rang, Edith was immediately on alert. On the doorstep stood a young man and woman, both around twenty-five, claiming to be from social services.
“I didn’t call anyone,” Edith responded with a wry smile.
“We came on our own,” the young man grinned broadly. “Have you purchased anything from the pharmacy in the past month?”
“Of course I have. At my age, I visit the pharmacy as often as the grocery store! Ninety years old is no joke!” Edith chatted merrily, ready to discuss her medications endlessly.
But it seemed the young pair wasn’t particularly interested.
“You’re eligible for a government rebate! It’s a new support measure. Let us in, and you can fetch your receipts while we take note,” suggested the young woman.
Edith chuckled to herself, recognizing the scheme: uninvited guests come in, one distracts while the other rummages through valuables.
As they entered, the young woman asked Edith to accompany her to the kitchen for a glass of water.
“Right away, darling! And Buster can keep you company in the meantime, young man,” Edith smiled.
Just then, Buster ambled into the room, sleepy but wary of strangers. He looked fierce despite his age.
Edith and the young woman left the room, and Buster slowly approached the young man, staring directly into his eyes.
“If you’re thinking of snooping around, I’ll take a bite out of you,” Buster seemed to say. The young man was too scared to move.
Not surprisingly, after such a welcome, the pair suddenly remembered urgent matters and quickly made their excuses.
“But what about the rebate? For the medication?” Edith asked with a hint of sarcasm.
“We’ll be in touch,” the young woman muttered as she hurried to the door.
Edith watched them leave with a stern look, closed the door, and gave Buster a pat. She then called the community officer, describing the pair to him—let him figure out which “social service” they were from!
