Chapter 1: The Unexpected Encounter

In June 2020, I found myself in a vehicle with three women, including my close friend Rose, a clinical psychologist. The other two, Kat and Jen, were also mental health professionals. We were heading to an escape room to celebrate Rose's birthday—a game where participants must solve puzzles to unlock a door and "escape" within a set time limit.

Suddenly, our smooth ride was interrupted by a strange noise. We had a flat tire.

Rose carefully navigated to the nearest gas station. Upon inspecting the flat, I realized there was no spare tire in the trunk. I called a nearby friend, who kindly agreed to pick us up and take us back to Rose's home.

Dressed smartly and standing by Rose's modern BMW, we found it odd that the dealership hadn't provided a spare tire. As we discussed this, a woman in an old pickup truck parked behind us and approached.

She was middle-aged, dressed in worn jeans and a T-shirt, and I noticed a lot of clutter in the back of her truck. After some small talk, she shared that her home had recently burned down. We expressed our sympathy, particularly given the stories we had heard about people losing their homes to wildfires in the area.

Then, she surprised us all.

She handed $60 to Kat, leaving us all in disbelief. Kat quickly refused the money, trying to return it, but the woman insisted. She claimed that someone had helped her before her house burned, and she wanted to pass on that kindness.

This left us confused.

Once the woman stepped away, we huddled to discuss what had just happened. Jen expressed her concern, suggesting we should help her. Rose and Kat agreed.

At that moment, I realized I needed to intervene.

Some might label me paranoid or cynical, but my past experiences had taught me to be wary. While generosity exists, this woman was not genuinely kind.

I whispered, "Don't give her any money. This is a form of reverse psychology. She's presenting herself as homeless to evoke pity. Why would she give money to us—a group in a BMW? Kat, return the money."

I had witnessed similar scams numerous times in prison. A newcomer, often referred to as a "fish," arrives without essentials. An experienced inmate might offer food or hygiene products, appealing to the fish's sense of vulnerability. The fish, unaware, accepts the items, not realizing he has unwittingly entered a trap.

Upon receiving the items, he feels indebted, often leading to a "2-for-1" or "3-for-1" repayment situation. The scam relies on psychological principles such as reciprocity and emotional reasoning. When someone offers something, it triggers a deep-seated obligation to reciprocate, which can cloud judgment. The fish, misled by the initial generosity, later realizes the true cost of what he accepted.

Similarly, our empathy for the woman in the truck made us feel compelled to return her "kindness," potentially leading to a financial loss on our part.

The irony was that all my companions were psychology professionals, eager to assist the woman. Meanwhile, I, lacking formal training in mental health, was the only one who recognized the deception, thanks to lessons learned in prison.

Many valuable insights gained from incarceration are not included in academic curricula. Unfortunately, some individuals exit prison and misuse these lessons to exploit others.

However, it's essential to note that most individuals released from prison are not malicious; they seek to lead honest lives. Many leverage their experiences to become positive influences.

Thank you for reading.

Chapter 2: Learning from Experience

This first video showcases over three decades of insights gained through prison life, detailing valuable lessons learned that can prevent future scams and misjudgments.

The second video discusses the moment that shattered the illusion of escaping consequences, emphasizing the importance of awareness and critical thinking in challenging situations.