"I never had a chance to do a second call unless I were to say to them, 'Hold it. I'm stopping this whole thing for a minute. I want to talk to my son. I don't care if he's in jail or where he is, I want to talk to my son.' You don't think that way. You don't," Anthony explained, articulating the psychological trap in which he found himself.
The speed and intensity of the scam were key factors in its success. Anthony noted that everything happened so "fast" that he didn't have time to question the authenticity of the calls or the demands being made. This rapid pace is a deliberate tactic used by scammers to keep their victims off-balance and prevent them from seeking outside verification or advice.