Shade 1: The Good-Faith Scam

(Where the intent is positive, but the value is misaligned)

A scam isn’t always someone trying to trick you.
Sometimes it’s simply when you receive less value than you believed you would.

That’s why I created The Scam Spectrum™: five shades of deception that happen in everyday life, even when no one is trying to hurt you.

And today, I want to start with Shade 1: The Good-Faith Scam.

Why Good-Faith Scams Hurt the Most

A Good-Faith Scam happens when someone tries to deliver value… but the actual value you receive is lower than the value you think you’re receiving.

No malicious intent.
No criminal scheme.
Just misaligned value.

And one of the best examples (probably quite controversial!)? Restaurants. I have to preface this by saying: I LOVE eating out. The experience, the convenience, the taste (sometimes!).

This is not a “it’s cheaper to eat at home” spill. It is deeper than that. 

Restaurants are not trying to scam you.
They’re trying to feed you, give you a good experience, AND survive as a business.

But we rarely acknowledge the value gap between what we think we’re getting and what we actually get.

Here’s the part most people don’t (want to) see:

To stay profitable, (almost) all restaurants must optimize for their margins… not your health.

Which means:

• Seed oils instead of butter or olive oil

• GMOs and mass-produced ingredients

• Non-stick pans

• Cheaper cuts of meat and fillers

You enjoy the taste, the convenience… the moment.

But behind the scenes, something else is happening:

Your long-term health is subsidizing their short-term profit.

Not because they want to harm you but because the system is designed that way.

That’s what makes it a Good-Faith Scam.

This Isn’t About Food. It’s About Awareness.

The point isn’t that restaurants are bad.
The point is that we often overestimate the value we’re getting from everyday experiences; financially, emotionally, or physically.

The Scam Spectrum is about learning to see the value gaps that shape our decisions.

Because once you understand Shade 1…

You start noticing Good-Faith Scams everywhere:

• the gym membership you never use

• the “productivity tool” that complicates your life

• the diet program that teaches nothing new

• the course that felt inspiring but didn’t change behavior

Value mismatches are everywhere, and awareness is the first step. 

Why This Matters for Money

Every Good-Faith Scam follows the same pattern:

• Feels good now

• Costs more later

• Looks harmless

• Is normalized

• Is repeated unconsciously

That’s why personal finance is hard.
That’s why saving is hard.
That’s why habits are hard.

And that’s why Savrr exists… to help people see the difference between perceived value and actual value in the decisions that shape their money.

Good-Faith Scams are everywhere.
They’re subtle, non-malicious, and often wrapped in good intentions.

But they still cost us… sometimes in money, sometimes in health, sometimes in time.

The goal isn’t fear.
The goal is awareness.

Because once you see a Good-Faith Scam clearly… you stop falling for the other four shades.