Over the years I have written numerous news stories about common telephone extortion schemes and local victims. I know the drill. Nonetheless, I got caught off guard.

It was a Friday, the week before Christmas. I was shaking off early morning brain fog, getting ready to go out for an appointment, when the phone rang.

As accustomed, I answered in Spanish: “Bueno.”

A man responded: “Hola. ¿Cómo estás?”

“¿Quién habla?”

“¿No me reconoces la voz?”

The voice sounded familiar. I ventured a guess.

“¿Chilo?”

I had just missed the first red flag.

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