So, I nearly had a nervous breakdown this weekend thinking my parents were in the process of being robbed while I was on the phone with them. Money, scams, extortion, guns being waved around, that sort of thing.

Basic background: My mother got a phone call from a scammer claiming to be Publishers Clearing House about to deliver a prize. In her case, it was supposed to be a new car. She already knew it was a scam, but decided to let it play out. See how long it took them to demand money. I told her to be careful as they already had her correct name, address and telephone number.

I call my mom before work and I hear yelling in the background, mentions of a gun and a lot of "Why I Oughta!" type talk. I'm putting two and two together, remembering the scammers having my parents' address, expecting them to try and demand money and knowing my dad has a revolver in the house (For "surprise visitors" at "odd hours," he says.)

Like I said, I'm thinking they're being robbed with me on the phone. I do the appropriate thing and call the police while I rush over. Turns out, someone (*cough* Dad *cough*) can't seem to give an appropriate and proportional response to anything ever.

They were fine. What happened was that they called back asking for money and my mother told them to get lost. My dad decided to overreact saying in great detail what he wanted to do to them and I was only hearing bits and pieces.

I didn't get the full picture until after work that night. I made sure my parents were OK, gave my statement and details to the police and stepped aside. Needless to say, my blood pressure didn't drop after finding out that news. The cause just shifted from anxiety to anger.

So... yeah.