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Welcome ScamScam A Scam is a confidence trick - a crime - is an attempt to defraud a person or group after first gaining their trust through deception. Scams or confidence tricks exploit victims using their credulity, naïveté, compassion, vanity, irresponsibility, or greed and exploiting that. Researchers have defined confidence tricks as "a distinctive species of fraudulent conduct ... intending to further voluntary exchanges that are not mutually beneficial", as they "benefit con operators ('con men' - criminals) at the expense of their victims (the 'marks')". A scam is a crime even if no money was lost. Victims!
This is the most complete and authoritative website on romance & relationship scamsRelationship Scam A Relationship Scam is a one-to-one criminal act that involves a trust relationship and uses deception & manipulation to get a victim to give to the criminal something of value, such as money! Click here to learn more: What Is A Relationship Scam? of all types. This is a safe place for you to learn and help yourself to recover. We provide information for every stage of the scam experience, from avoidance, to discovery, to the aftermath and recovery. Take time to browse our home page and look through our sections and articles. We are not amateurs, we are the world’s leading nonprofit organization supporting victims worldwide with 30 years of experience. This website is for you, please use it. We wish you all the best getting through your experience!
Welcome To The World’s Leading Resource About ScamsScams A Scam is a confidence trick - a crime - is an attempt to defraud a person or group after first gaining their trust through deception. Scams or confidence tricks exploit victims using their credulity, naïveté, compassion, vanity, irresponsibility, or greed and exploiting that. Researchers have defined confidence tricks as "a distinctive species of fraudulent conduct ... intending to further voluntary exchanges that are not mutually beneficial", as they "benefit con operators ('con men' - criminals) at the expense of their victims (the 'marks')". A scam is a crime even if no money was lost.
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Avoid Scams – Tips, Clues & Red Flags
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Please Note: We are reworking our content on this website and updating its style. This is a process that will go one for several months. We apologize for changes and confusion. Our goal is to make our content more logically organized and accessible to our visitors.
MAIN INFORMATION CATEGORIES
- How Scams Work On Victims
- Victim Recovery & Support
- Money MulesMoney mules Money mules are a type of money laundering where a person transfers illicit funds through a medium (such as a bank account) to obfuscate where the money came from. There are different types of money mules including witting, unwitting, and complicit.
- FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
- Insight & Wisdom
- Report Scammers
- Against ScambaitingScam Baiting A foolish activity where a victim or nonvictim engages in deception and fraud to lead on a scammer into revealing information or for the sport of it. Deliberate deception online, regardless of the reason, is both unethical and in many places may also be illegal. While not prosecuted, Scambaiting has no legitimate benefit and should never be performed by victims since it is an act of revenge and only amplifies trauma. It is a reprehensible practice that is popularized by amateur anti-scam groups driven by their hate for fraudsters. Learn more: SCARS Position Statement Against Scambaiting
- CybercrimeCybercrime Cybercrime is a crime related to technology, computers, and the Internet. Typical cybercrime are performed by a computer against a computer, or by a hacker using software to attack computers or networks. Alerts
- Up To The Minute Scam News
- SCARSSCARS SCARS - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. A government registered crime victims' assistance & crime prevention nonprofit organization based in Miami, Florida, U.S.A. SCARS supports the victims of scams worldwide and through its partners in more than 60 countries around the world. Incorporated in 2015, its team has 30 years of continuous experience educating and supporting scam victims. Visit www.AgainstScams.org to learn more about SCARS. Videos & Podcasts
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SCARS On Facebook News & Information Items – Always Updating
SCARS On Facebook News & Information Items - Always Updating More Scam & ScammerScammer A Scammer or Fraudster is someone that engages in deception to obtain money or achieve another objective. They are criminals that attempt to deceive a victim into sending more or performing some other activity that benefits the scammer. News Published Only On Facebook By SCARS
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Current SCARS Alerts
Welcome to SCARS™ Supporting Scam Victims Worldwide
This is our SCARS website to help romance and other types of cyber-enabled (scam) victims find information about how their scams happened, what to do next, and how to recover after they are over.
SCARS™ is the Society of Citizens Against Relationship ScamsSCARS SCARS - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. A government registered crime victims' assistance & crime prevention nonprofit organization based in Miami, Florida, U.S.A. SCARS supports the victims of scams worldwide and through its partners in more than 60 countries around the world. Incorporated in 2015, its team has 30 years of continuous experience educating and supporting scam victims. Visit www.AgainstScams.org to learn more about SCARS. Inc. – a government registeredgovernment-registered It means to be registered with departments or agencies of the government. In the case of SCARS, we are registered with state and federal governments in the United States, Europe & Asia. SCARS is registered as a crime victims' assistance nonprofit with agencies of the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security. And is incorporated in the State of Florida as a nonprofit corporation. incorporated crime victims’ assistance nonprofit organization supporting scam victims worldwide.
Visit www.AgainstScams.org to learn more about SCARS
Report all Scams & Scams on www.Anyscam.com or on this website
Official SCARS Websites:
- AgainstScams.org – Main SCARS
- Anyscam.com – Report Scammers
- ScamsOnline.org – Scammer Photos
- ContraEstafas.org – Información en Español
- Shop.AgainstScams.org – SCARS Store
Find help also on Facebook:
SCARS|LATINOAMERICA
- ContraEstafas.org – Sitio Web Completo en Español
- Estafas Romanticas : Amigas Contra Estafas – En Español »
- Estafas Mexicanas : Amigas Contra Estafas – En Español »
- Fraudes de Computador e Scams da Internet – Português & Brasileira »
Website News:
We re-designed our home page to help you find information more easily. Please let us know how we are doing?
Looking for scammer photos? Visit ScamsOnline.org for our latest photos galleries!
Please Note:
We are phasing out the “Romance Scams Now” as a separate brand for our organization as we focus on the name SCARS. So you will see a mix of the naming on this website and our other media over the next year until the conversion is complete. Go to www.AgainstScams.org to learn more.
Thank You!
This is our 21st year publishing about scams. There have been a lot of changes over the years but we remain committed to providing you with the best and most accurate information about scams, and especially romance scams. We are the global experts with nearly 30 years of continuous experience helping the public avoid scams and to recover from them.
Learn more about SCARS and our Core Values please visit www.AgainstScams.org/about-scars/scars-mission
Artículos en Español
For New Victims / After-Scam Victims’ Guides – More »
SCARS™ Guide: What Can You Expect After A Scam
Immediately After A Scam, You Will Have Questions
Here is our After-Scam Reality Check! It is blunt but to the point – you need proper expectations to move forward with your recovery.
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Based upon our almost 30 Years of Experience this is what you should expect: You Have Been Scammed And You Can’t Undo It. You Must Report The Crime To Your Local Police Even Though They Can’t Arrest The Scammer – But The Report Still Matters. You Will Not Be Able To Recover Your Money That You Sent To The Scammer.
SCARS™ Guide: After The Scam Comes Disaster
This Guide Will Help You Understand The Hard Times That Come After A Scam
You all know what you felt after you discovered your scam. Heartache, despair, rageRage Anger, also known as wrath or rage, is an intense emotional state involving a strong uncomfortable and non-cooperative response to a perceived provocation, trigger, hurt or threat. About one-third of scam victims become trapped in anger for extended periods of time following a scam. A person experiencing anger will often experience physical effects, such as increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and increased levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline. Some view anger as an emotion that triggers a part of the fight or flight response. Anger becomes the predominant feeling behaviorally, cognitively, and physiologically. Anger can have many physical and mental consequences. While most of those who experience anger explain its arousal as a result of "what has happened to them", psychologists point out that an angry person can very well be mistaken because anger causes a loss in self-monitoring capacity and objective observability. and angerAnger Anger, also known as wrath or rage, is an intense emotional state involving a strong uncomfortable and non-cooperative response to a perceived provocation, trigger, hurt or threat. About one-third of scam victims become trapped in anger for extended periods of time following a scam. A person experiencing anger will often experience physical effects, such as increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and increased levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline. Some view anger as an emotion that triggers a part of the fight or flight response. Anger becomes the predominant feeling behaviorally, cognitively, and physiologically. Anger can have many physical and mental consequences. While most of those who experience anger explain its arousal as a result of "what has happened to them", psychologists point out that an angry person can very well be mistaken because anger causes a loss in self-monitoring capacity and objective observability., depression. The whole range of traumatic emotions that follow something like this.
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Some victims give away huge sums of money, from thousands to over a million. We know that scams are both an emotional dependency that results in grief after it ends, as well as an addiction that results in withdrawal after it is over. There have been massive amounts written about the impact on people’s lives when they experience these things.
SCARS™ Guide: What Does Recovery Mean For A Victim?
What Does Recovery Mean For A Scam Victim?
Learn what the road ahead will be like for a romance scam victim. Learn about the stages of recovery and what these will mean to you personally.
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Scams are complex in that they involve psychological traumatization, addiction, and financial difficulty. We will help you understand and transition from Victim to SurvivorSurvivor A Scam Survivor is a victim who has been able to fully accept the reality of their situation. That they were the victim of a crime and are not to blame. They are working on their emotional recovery and reduction of any trauma either on their own, through a qualified support organization, or through counseling or therapy. And has done their duty and reported the crime to their local police, national police, and on Anyscam.com to help you understand each stage of recovery. Being a Survivor does not mean that you have recovered, but that you have taken control of your recovery and are actively working on it towards a positive goal.
More Information for Scam Victims
Protecting Against Money MuleMoney Mule A money mule sometimes called a "smurfer," is a person who transfers money acquired illegally (e.g., stolen) in person, through a courier service, or electronically, on behalf of others (usually criminals that they are knowingly or unknowingly affiliated). Typically, the mule is paid for services with a small part of the money transferred - but not always. Mules may or may not be aware that they are performing these actions. Money mules are often dupes recruited online for what they think is legitimate employment, not aware that the money they are transferring is the product of crime. The money is transferred from the mule's account to the scam operator, typically in another country. Similar techniques are used to transfer illegal merchandise. Mules can be prosecuted for numerous crimes. Schemes
If Your Photos Are Used By Scammers
What Is The FBIFBI FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, the FBI is also a member of the U.S. Intelligence Community and reports to both the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence. A leading U.S. counter-terrorism, counterintelligence, and criminal investigative organization, the FBI has jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crimes, including financial fraud.’s IC3.gov?
Get Help Directly From The FBI
For Family & Friends of Scam Victims
Information For Family & Friends Article Catalog
Friends and Family – Understanding Romance Scam
This Guide is intended for Family and Friends to Better Understand Romance Scams
This is presented in the hope that it will help scam victims to explain what happened to them. We hope that by reading this you can understand that the victim was not at fault but was professionally manipulated beyond their will and control.
A Romance Scam Is An Unusual Crime. It Starts With Just Saying Hello.
The internet was conceived as a place for all of us to come together, connect with new people, people from all over the world. We could learn about each other’s cultures, lives, and histories, and make the world a smaller happier place. Or so went the theory.
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View All Of Our Articles To Help Family & Friends
It can be a great challenge to help a family member or a friend recognize they are being scammed, helping them end it, and then supporting them through recovery!
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Family & Friends Scam Victim Interventions
Family’s Guide To Intervening With A Victim In DenialDenial Denial is a refusal or unwillingness to accept something or to accept reality. Refusal to admit the truth or reality of something, refusal to acknowledge something unpleasant; And as a term of Psychology: denial is a defense mechanism in which confrontation with a personal problem or with reality is avoided by denying the existence of the problem or reality.
One of the great tragedies is having a friend or family member trapped in a romance scam who will not believe what others see. They are trapped so deeply in the scam that they refuse to see the truth. This guide will help you with the options available to you, and ways to try to convince the victim of the truth that is so obvious to you and their family or friends.
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SCARS Guide To Confronting Scam Victims In Complete DenialDenial Denial is a refusal or unwillingness to accept something or to accept reality. Refusal to admit the truth or reality of something, refusal to acknowledge something unpleasant; And as a term of Psychology: denial is a defense mechanism in which confrontation with a personal problem or with reality is avoided by denying the existence of the problem or reality.
When you care for someone who is a Romance Scam Victims in total denial there is little difference between them and a drug addict. It is incredibly difficult in so many ways for you and everyone else that knows and cares for them. This Guide will help you understand how to approach them and achieve results.
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Additional Important Information For Families & Friends
SCARS Guide Book For Family & Friendsl
This SCARS Publishing book represents a complete guide to help the families and friends understand how these scams work and how to help the victim – during and after their scam. This book should be purchased by family and friends to better understand what happened to the victim and the traumatic impact on them. But it can also be shared by the victim so that they do not have to explain to family and friends about the scam.
Click Here To See All SCARS Books »
Who We Can Help?
Who We Can Help? A SCARS Policy On Our Services SCARS Policy Clarification: SCARS is an organization that assists victims [...]
Do You Hate Your Scammer?
Do You Hate Your Scammer? Hate Is An Incredibly Destructive Emotion That Prevents Recovery After A Scam! A SCARS Insight [...]
For Family & Friends – Article Catalog
For Family & Friends - Article Catalog Helping Family & Friends of Scam Victims The basics of relationship scams, what to look for, and [...]
Resilience, Recovery And Romance Scam Victims
ResilienceResilience Is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. Psychological resilience is the ability to mentally or emotionally cope with a crisis or to return to pre-crisis status quickly. Resilience exists when the person uses "mental processes and behaviors in promoting personal assets and protecting self from the potential negative effects of stressors". In simpler terms, psychological resilience exists in people who develop psychological and behavioral capabilities that allow them to remain calm during crises/chaos and to move on from the incident without long-term negative consequences. In popular accounts, psychological resilience is sometimes likened to a "psychological immune system"., Recovery, And Romance Scam Victims Psychology of Scams A SCARS Insight "Resilience" Is The Capacity To Recover Quickly [...]
Scam Victim Recovery Is Not A Mystery
Scam Victim Recovery Is Not A Mystery Follow The Process, Avoid Amateurs, Make A Commitment About Scam Victim Recovery A SCARS Insight [...]
Things Scam Victims Can Do to Improve Their Mental Health Every Day
Things Scam Victims You Can Do to Improve Their Mental HealthMental health Mental health, defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), is "a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community". According to WHO, mental health includes "subjective well-being, perceived self-efficacy, autonomy, competence, intergenerational dependence, and self-actualization of one's intellectual and emotional potential, among others". From the perspectives of positive psychology or of holism, mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and to create a balance between life activities and efforts to achieve psychological resilience. Cultural differences, subjective assessments, and competing professional theories all affect how one defines "mental health". Every Day Scam Victim Recovery A SCARS Insight Small [...]
Spotting Fake Soldiers & Military Scams
Looking For More? View Our Military Scams Page on Facebook »
Looking For Fake Soldier Photos? Visit ScamsOnline.org For The Latest Scammer Photos »
Online Romance Scam Information About Stolen Soldier Identities
ImpersonationImpersonation An impersonator is someone who imitates or copies the behavior or actions of another. There are many reasons for impersonating someone, such as: part of a criminal act such as identity theft, online impersonation scam, or other fraud. This is usually where the criminal is trying to assume the identity of another, in order to commit fraud, such as accessing confidential information or to gain property not belonging to them. Also known as social engineering and impostors. & Identity TheftIdentity Theft Identity theft is when someone uses another person's personal identifying information, without their permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. In both the U.K. and the United States it is the theft of personally identifiable information. Identity theft deliberately uses someone else's identity as a method to gain financial advantages or obtain credit and other benefits, and perhaps to cause other person's loss. The person whose identity has been stolen may suffer adverse consequences, especially if they are falsely held responsible for the perpetrator's actions. Personally identifiable information generally includes a person's name, date of birth, social security number, driver's license number, bank account or credit card numbers, PINs, electronic signatures, fingerprints, passwords, or any other information that can be used to access a person's financial resources. Of United States Army Soldiers – If You Suspect Someone Then They ARE A Scammer
You may have a suspicion about someone you have met online. You may not know it yet but your instincts picked up on something out of place (below we explain the Red Flags in more detail). Go with your gut – if it feels wrong it is!
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SCARS™ Guide: United States Military & Social Media
So much of the information spread around about scammers and fake military is nothing but an urban legendUrban Legend Urban Legend An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend is a genre of modern folklore comprising stories circulated as true, especially on social media. These legends can be entertaining but often concern serious topics. They may also be confirmation of moral standards, or reflect prejudices, or be a way to make sense of societal anxieties. Urban legends are most often circulated orally but can be spread by any media, including newspapers, mobile news apps, e-mail, and social media. Some urban legends have passed through the years with only minor changes and seem impervious to exposure as untrue.. False information, misinterpretation, or rumors spread like lice in a preschool. This article will help to clear up many of these preconceptions that are nothing but urban legends and replace them with fact.
Yes, the United States has military personnel in EVERY country on Earth (except a handful). Most of these are assigned to United States Embassies, however, there are active military missions in over 100 countries – mostly fighting terrorists around the globe. Not since World War 2 has there been deployment of United States and NATO forces in more counties.
Find the information you need to know if someone is real or fake here.
Click Here To Learn More About The U.S. Military
Click Here For A Guide To U.S. Military Ranks
Right Up Front – If Someone Sends You A Photo Of Their ID Card They ARE A Scammer!
That is because it is illegal for United States Military personnel to copy their ID cards. It is that simple!
However, so many people want to understand how to make sure they are fakes that we have created the following.
United States Military ID Cards Are Called “CAC” – Common Access Cards. The CAC, a “smart” card about the size of a credit card, is the standard identification for active duty uniformed Service personnel, Selected Reserve, U.S. Department of Defence [DoD] civilian employees, and eligible contractor personnel. It is also the principal card used to enable physical access to buildings and controlled spaces, and it provides access to DoD computer networks and systems.
Find the information you need to know if someone is real or fake here.
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SCARS Guides on Scams & Scamming – More »
It Is The Season For Holiday Scams
It Is The Season For Holiday Scams A Holiday 2021 Advisory A SCARS Special Report Remain Vigilant Against Holiday Scamming Schemes As we approach the holiday season, we are warning everyone that scammers prefer to steal rather than give during this special time of year. Shoppers hunting for a good deal should be on the lookout for increasingly aggressive and innovative scams designed by criminals to steal money and personal [...]
Holiday 2021 – Types Of Scams & Cyber Attacks To Be Alert For
Holiday 2021 - Types Of Scams & Cyber Attacks To Be Alert For What To Avoid & Watch Out For! A SCARS Special report Remember That Everyone Can Be Scammed! So Be Careful! Are you scam smart and cyber conscious? Scammers ramp things up during the Holiday Season and more than ever you will be targeted! Are you knowledgeable enough to AVOID • DISCOVER • RECOVER from scams? Pay attention [...]
How Do Individuals Justify and Rationalize their Criminal Behaviors in Online Romance Fraud? [PDF]
How Do Individuals Justify and Rationalize their CriminalCriminal A criminal is any person who through a decision or act engages in a crime. This can be complicated, as many people break laws unknowingly, however, in our context, it is a person who makes a decision to engage in unlawful acts or to place themselves with others who do this. A criminal always has the ability to decide not to break the law, or if they initially engage in crime to stop doing it, but instead continues. Behaviors in Online Romance FraudFraud In law, fraud is intentional deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain (money or other assets), or to deprive a victim of a legal right. Fraud can violate civil law (e.g., a fraud victim may sue the fraud perpetrator to avoid the fraud or recover monetary compensation) or criminal law (e.g., a fraud perpetrator may be prosecuted and imprisoned by governmental authorities), or it may cause no loss of money, property, or legal right but still be an element of another civil or criminal wrong. The purpose of fraud may be monetary gain or other benefits, for example by obtaining a passport, travel document, or driver's license, or mortgage fraud, where the perpetrator may attempt to qualify for a mortgage by way of false statements. A fraud can also be a hoax, which is a distinct concept that involves deliberate deception without the intention of gain or of materially damaging or depriving a victim.? An Academic Study Into Criminal BehaviorBehavior Behavior / Behavioral Actions Otherwise known as habits, behavior or behavioral actions are strategies to help prevent online exploitation that target behavior, such as social engineering of victims. Changing your behavior is the ONLY effective means to reduce or prevent scams. In West Africa Presented by SCARS An Academic Study Into West African Criminality We present this important study to give insights into the mindset of scammers/online criminals in Ghana and by extension the rest of West Africa. Understanding how scammers think and justify their actions from a criminology point of view [...]
Why People Blame Victims?
Why People BlameBlame Blame or Blaming is the act of censuring, holding responsible, making negative statements about an individual or group that their action or actions are socially or morally irresponsible, the opposite of praise. When someone is morally responsible for doing something wrong, their action is blameworthy. By contrast, when someone is morally responsible for doing something right, we may say that his or her action is praiseworthy. Blame imparts responsibility for an action or act, as in that they made a choice to perform that act or action. Crime Victims? The Just-World Phenomena A SCARS Insight This Is Called The Just-World Phenonema Why We Blame Victims In Order To Rationalize Why Bad Things Happen? According to VeryWellMind.com: The just-world phenomenon is the tendency to believe that the world is just and that people get what they deserve. Because people want to believe that the world is fair, they will look for ways to explain or rationalize [...]
Psychological & Emotional Abuse During A Romance Scam
Psychological & Emotional Abuse During A Romance Scam Manipulation & Control Often Include Abuse! SCARS Advocacy A Romance Scam Is A Form Of Violence There Is Also True Psychological & Emotional Abuse! As any scam victim can tell you, their scam left them profoundly changed. Sometimes they are in denial and simply cannot face it. Sometimes they lose themselves in their anger and rage. But almost all come out for [...]
SCARS Insight Interview: Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. talks with Brett Johnson [VIDEO]
Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. talks with Brett JohnsonBrett Johnson He is a Cybersecurity, Cybercrime, Fraud, and Identity Theft Expert. Keynote Speaker, Consultant, Writer, Podcast Personality. Former USA Most Wanted Cybercriminal, Identity Thief, Hacker, and Original Internet Godfather. He is also an Advisor to SCARS. Brett is one of the top experts in the world on cybercrime, identity theft, fraud, and cybersecurity. His knowledge is unique. His education in cybercrime does not come from a book, he has hands-on training. His knowledge is from the criminal side of things and has an understanding of cybercrime that the majority of people on the planet will never possess. [VIDEO] About Scams & CybercrimesCybercrimes Cybercrime is a crime related to technology, computers, and the Internet. Typical cybercrime are performed by a computer against a computer, or by a hacker using software to attack computers or networks. In Today's World SCARS Insight Interview A New Video from SCARS! A SCARS Insight Interview The World Of Cybercriminals & Scams Is Not What Many Tell You About It is a world of both professionals and services that allow almost anyone to become a cybercriminal with ease. Hear about this world as SCARS' Managing Director Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. [...]
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“Helping Victims Of Online Crime
Is The Core Of What We Do!”
Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
a government registered crime victims’ assistance and crime prevention
nonprofit organization supporting scam victims worldwide