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Gold Bar Scam/Phone Scams Government Impersonators Telling Victims to Protect Their Money! How Scams Work - A SCARS Insight Author: • SCARS Institute Enecyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract Gold bar scams involve fraudsters posing as federal agents or government officials who deceive victims by claiming their financial assets are at risk due to identity theft. The [...]
Missing Person Extortion Phone Scam A Phone Scam Targeting the Families of Missing Persons How Scams Work - A SCARS Insight Author:. • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Originally Published: 2021 - Article Updated: 2024 Article Abstract The phone extortion scam targets families who post missing person notices on social media. Scammers [...]
Google Voice Scam Courtesy of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission How Scams Work - A SCARS Insight The Google Voice Scam: How This Verification Code Scam Works And How To Avoid It It’s Cyber Security Awareness month - September, so the tricks scammers use to steal our personal information are on our minds, including Google Voice. If there’s one constant among scammers, it’s that they’re always coming up with new [...]
BEC Scams - Don’t Pay For Anything With A Gift Card How Scams Work! Business Email & Phone Gift Card Scams A SCARS Insight Look, Your Boss Isn’t Emailing You About A Gift Card It's A Scam Did you get an email from your boss asking you for a favor? Does your boss need you to send gift cards to pay for an upcoming office party? Before you go out and [...]
Police Impersonation Scam Phone Calls How Scams Work A SCARS Series How To Spot A Police Impersonation Scam Phone Call? Scammers (Especially From India) Frequently Call And Pretend To Be Local Police Or Other Agencies Scam phone calls are common, pretending to be from the police or other entities you trust - like your local police or sheriff is becoming more common. The goal of these fake phone [...]
The Refugee Romance Scam How Scams Work A SCARS Series No Situation Is Safe From Scams - Syria & Other Refugees Are No Exception In a classic case of “social engineering” scammers are using the Syrian refugee crisis to scam people out of money and information. Whenever a humanitarian crisis hits, scammers will set up fake websites, send phishing emails, and use social media such as Facebook to [...]
Jobs & Employment Scams How Scams Work A SCARS Series Finding Employment Is Not Always Safe Jobs and employment scams trick you into handing over your money by offering you a ‘guaranteed’ way to make fast money or a high-paying job for little effort. How Does This Scam Work? The scammer contacts you by email, letter, or phone and offers you a job that requires very little effort for high [...]
SCARS Topics: How Scams Work Information For Scam Victims, Family & Friends On RomanceScamsNOW.com More articles will be added to this topic as they are created or catagorized
How Scams Work: Understanding The Long Con The Basic Mechanics Of A Relationship Scam A SCARS Insight What Is A Long Con? Con is derived from "Confidence Trick" A "Long Con" Or "Big Con" (Or Long Game) Is A Scam That Unfolds Over Several Days Or Weeks, Or Even Years. It may involve one scammer or a team of fraudsters working together (a team), and even props ( such as [...]
How Scams Work? Impersonation Romance Scams African Style Impersonation Scams A SCARS Series How Scams Work? The Impersonation Romance Scam Almost all scams, frauds, or confidence tricks or schemes work along similar flows or have characteristics in common. Common Traits Almost all socially engineered scams or fraud have some basic common factors: A stranger contacts you - by email, phone, or online They use photos & identities of [...]
Typical Phishing Attacks How Scams Work A SCARS Insight Typical Phishing Scam Attack: Apple Accounts You May Be Receiving A New Apple Customer Phishing Attack Targeting Your iTunes Account Subject: "Re:【Confirmation renewals 】 [Review acounts] Your information has been reset and changes information on Monday june 03 2019 09:11:06" Appears To Come From: customer@email.apple.com But Actually Comes From: slebew-6437239@martakasihotang.com Actual text displays but is encrypted to prevent copying [...]
How Scams, Fraud, and Con Schemes Worked in the 1920s A 2025 Perspective The Roaring Twenties(1920s): A Decade of Quick Riches, Dazzle and Deception in Frauds, Scams, and Con Games History of Scams – A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract The 1920s were a decade of [...]
How Scams Worked In The 1800s A Historical Perspective History of Scams - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Based on an Article from NPR 2015 - Nonprofit use with permission Article Abstract Scams and Fraud in the 1800s reveal that deception has always been less [...]
Com Networks - A New UK Teen Crime Trend + Clockwork Orange Style Scams & Violence UK NCA Warns of Sadistic Com Networks - Online Harm Groups Putting People at Unprecedented Risk New Crime Trend - A SCARS Institute Criminology Insight Authors: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Portions from the UK National Crime Centre [...]
Scams & Magic - The Setup or Pre-Show Work Part 16 Understanding the Methods Used by Both Scammers and Magicians to Deceive Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract "The Setup or Pre-Show Work" is a critical phase in both magic and scams, [...]
The Reasons Non-Delivery & Related Scams Work Non-Delivery / Non-Payment Fraud Works In non-delivery fraud, criminals promise victims highly sought-after goods, accept payment, then never deliver. While the principle is simple, the fraud scheme is often sophisticated. Criminals can adapt a well-established set of methods to suit any product, whether it is medical equipment, puppies, office supplies, or electronics. Non-Delivery / Non-Payment Scams Are Big Business! HERE’S HOW [...]
SCARS™ Special Report: Work-at-Home Businesses Scams Want to be your own boss? Earn thousands of dollars a month from home? Ads promote many different work-at-home jobs and businesses, but often the message is the same: they promise you’ll earn a great living from home, even in your spare time. Don’t take their word for it — many of these “jobs” are scams, or don’t deliver on the claims they make. So do some research, and [...]
SCARS™ Special Report: Indian IRS Scams - How They Work? An Individual Indian Scammer Explains How The Fake IRS Call Center Scams Work Jayesh, a 19-year-old from Mumbai, India, explains how he worked in a fraudulent telephone boiler room pretending to be an IRS agent collecting taxes as he called people all over America. The video is followed by examples of fake IRS threats and Jayesh's explanation of how they worked. PLEASE SHARE OUR ARTICLES [...]
SCARS™ Scam Warning: Newspaper Ad Scams Still Work The following was oroginally published on one fo the SCARS Facebook pages in August 2017. However, these scams are appearing again. Be Warned! Security expert Crowetz warns against responding to a personal ad looking for a husband Two ads in local papers could be scams Is a local newspaper advertisement an old-fashioned bait and switch scam? In Thursday's Palm Beach Post, someone paid for space to post [...]
Mexican Timeshare Fraud – Mexican CJNG Drug Cartel Government Impersonation Scams An Overview How Scams Work - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Originally Published in 2023 Updated 2026 Article Abstract U.S. authorities have linked the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación to timeshare fraud targeting Americans who own properties in Mexico, [...]
Is It A Scam? You Will Never Know Unless You Verify Here is a tool to help you reasonably verify strangers online. Why This Checklist Matters Most online scams begin with a stranger. The first message looks harmless: a friendly hello, a wrong-number text, a job offer, an investment tip, or an urgent call from someone claiming to be your bank. Criminals send these openings by the thousands and work every reply. By the [...]
Crowdfunding Scams & Fraud Scam Alert: One in Ten Crowdfunding Campaigns Appear to be Fraud that Exploits Compassion and Trust A SCARS Institute Analysis - A Consumer Alert Authors: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract Crowdfunding fraud exploits donors’ compassion through fabricated illnesses, copied appeals, impersonation, diverted funds, and deceptive product [...]
SCARS Reader Rewards System Guide How to use your reader account, reading badges, the master article lists, and the weekly newsletter on SCARS Institute websites. This guide is for readers. It explains what each feature does and how to use it. Everything described here is free. NOTE: Each of the four main SCARS Institute websites (AgainstScams.org • ScamPsychology.org • ScamsNOW.com • RomanceScamsNOW.com) has separate reader reward systems. To use the full capability of each, [...]
What Happens When the Scams Stop? The Geopolitical Consequences of Ending an $8–10 Trillion Global Shadow Economy The Politics of Scams & Fraud - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract x What Happens When the Scams Stop? The Geopolitical [...]
Second-Party Fraud - Financial Fraud - Facilitated By Money Mules - What It Is - How It Works When a Scam Victim’s Legitimate Identity Becomes Part of the Fraud How Scams Work - A SCARS Institute Insight Authors: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. See Author Biographies Below Article Abstract Second-party fraud occurs [...]
Spotting AI Scams - Using AI to Catch Artificial Intelligence Scams A SCARS Institute User's Guide to Using AI to Probe and Analyze Suspected Scam Communications Spotting Scams and Scammers - A SCARS Institute Insight Authors: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Prompts were written by Claude and ChatGPT as prompted by SCARS Institute See Author [...]
The SCARS Institute Relationship Scams Formula Checklist This is the Formula that all Relationship Scams Follow Catalog of Scams / How Scams Work - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. See Author Biographies Below Article Abstract Relationship scams follow a recurring psychological structure in [...]
Bank Impersonation Scams Bank Impersonation Scams and Account Takeovers: How Criminal Networks Use Texts, Emails, Calls, Identity Data, and Voice Cloning to Steal Money How Scams Work - A SCARS Institute Insight Authors: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract Bank impersonation scams use text messages, emails, and phone calls that appear [...]
[raw] Recognising Scam Emails — SCARS Institute Recognising Scam Emails SCARS Institute · Re-Victimisation Prevention Training Would You Spot These Emails? Email remains the most common delivery mechanism for scams, fraud, and malware. This training takes you through six realistic scam emails — each one representing a different deception technique used by criminals every day. You will see the email exactly as it would appear in your inbox, uncover what is actually happening, and test [...]
[raw] Recognising AI Romance Scams — SCARS Institute Recognising AI Romance Scams SCARS Institute · Re-Victimisation Prevention Training Can You See What Is Happening? This training is designed for people who have experienced a scam and want to protect themselves from being scammed again. You will read through a realistic conversation between a fictional victim and an AI-powered scammer — the kind of AI that is being used right now in real romance scam operations [...]
15 Things That Nearly Every Online and Phone Scams Have In Common Things Almost All Online and Phone Scams Seem to Share How Scams Work - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Recoverologist, Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. See Author Biographies Below Article Abstract Online and phone scams share [...]
The Crazy Gregor MacGregor and the Country of Poyais Scam The Poyais Scheme: When a Man Invented a Country, and Hundreds Paid the Price History of Scams - A SCARS Institute Insight Authors: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract Gregor MacGregor, a Scottish adventurer with a mixed [...]
Cannibal Scams - The Intersection of Violent Predators and Scamming Techniques When Violent Predators Use Online Grooming and Fake Personas to Target Victims Catalog of Scams - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. See Author Biographies Below Abstract Violent predators have, in rare but [...]
Shell Agents and the Rise of Agentic AI Scams, Fraud, and Cybercrime Shell Agents and the Next Phase of Scam Operations How Scams Work / Technology of Cybercrime - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. See Author Biographies Below Article Abstract Shell Agents describe [...]
Murphy's Law for Scams, Scammers, and Scam Victims - Part 1 A SCARS Institute Scam Victim Recovery Insight Murphy’s Law for scams is not about blaming you. It is about naming the predictable ways the brain, the nervous system, and emotion can be pulled off course under coercion, pressure, and manufactured intimacy. Scammers exploit normal human mechanisms like empathy, attachment, pattern-finding, and the need for certainty. When the situation feels confusing or urgent, the mind [...]
Ethereum ETHM Token Trap and Pig Butchering Scams The Ethereum Token Trap and the ETHM Scam Mechanism in Pig Butchering Operations Catalog of Scams - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract Pig butchering scams increasingly exploit real blockchain infrastructure to create convincing illusions of wealth, with [...]
U.S. Veterans Benefits Scams When “Help” Comes With a Cost Veterans Should Never Pay Understanding and Avoiding Scams that Target Veterans’ Benefits Catalog of Scams - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract Many United States military veterans rely on Department of Veterans Affairs disability and pension [...]
New AI Voice Cloning Phone Scams A New Frontier in Phone Scams: How AI Can Clone a Human Voice and Deceive Even the Cautious How Scams Work - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract AI voice cloning scams use artificial intelligence to replicate a real person’s [...]
SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams - Scams & Scammers, Organized Crime, Cyber, and Victim Insights A Collection of Insights Written by the SCARS Institute Expert Team Welcome to the SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Insights, a unique knowledge hub dedicated to exploring and understanding the complex world of online deception, scams, and fraud with its profound human cost. Here, we provide different look across five critical domains: Scams & Scammers, where we deconstruct the [...]
Logistics and Cargo Theft Scams & Fraud The Evolving Threat of Logistics & Cargo Theft Scams: Strategies and Solutions Catalog of Scams / How Scams Work - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. See Author Biographies Below Article Abstract Cargo theft has evolved into [...]
Student Tuition Payment Phishing Scams Catalog of Scams - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract Student tuition payment phishing scams target students and families during billing cycles by imitating university finance offices and loan servicers, pushing victims to fake portals that harvest logins and payment data. [...]
According to Recent Research, Americans are Targeted by Scams More than Any Other Country Americans Get Twice as Many Scam Calls as Everyone Else Criminology / Scam Analysis - A SCARS Institute Insight Authors: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Portions by Talker Research Article Abstract People now face a rising tide [...]
The Permission Structure that Accommodates Scams and Online Criminality Permission Structures and West African Online Fraud: Social Scripts, Moral Economies, and Paths to Prevention Criminology - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. See Author Biographies Below Article Abstract Permission structures are the shared stories, [...]
Grandparent Scams/Emergency Scams A Manipulated Extortion Crime Typology Overview / Victim Impact Analysis CRIMINOLOGY & VICTIMOLOGY - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. See Author Biographies Below Article Abstract Grandparent scams exploit love, urgency, and secrecy, yet families can counter them with calm routines and simple checks. [...]
Cash-For-Play Smartphone Games - Are They Scams? Exploring Cash-for-Play Smartphone Games: Scams, Legitimate Options, and How to Spot the Difference How Scams Work - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract Cash-for-play smartphone games captivate users with the promise of earning real money through engaging gameplay, yet [...]
Identifying Fake Crypto Investments (Pig Butchering Scams) - 2025 Edition Spotting Fake Crypto “Investments” (Pig-Butchering): A Practical Guide How Scams Work - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc Article Abstract Pig-butchering scams start as friendship or romance and pivot into “wealth coaching” on a rigged platform that displays [...]
Avoid Disaster & Charity Scams Protecting Generosity: How to Avoid Charity Scams Catalog of Scams - A SCARS Institute Insight Authors: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Portions from National Cybersecurity Alliance PLEASE NOTE: Because of the rampant number of charity scams, the SCARS Institute no longer accepts individual donations. [...]
Commission-Based Task Job Scams Understanding the Hidden Mechanism of Commission-Based Task Job Scams Catalog of Scams - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract Commission-based task job scams exploit the appeal of easy remote work by offering small payments for simple online actions before introducing “premium” tasks [...]
The Danger of Scams - 6 Ways Scams Can Hurt You What Are the Dangers from Scams and Scammers? A Practical Guide for Your Online and Physical Safety Online Safety // Cybersecurity - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract Scammers pose far greater risks than just [...]
Smartphone Ads: Scams and Abuse - Interstitial Ads are Designed to Manipulate and Deceive How Interstitial Smartphone Ads Turn into Mobile Scamware and Abuse Cellphone Users How Scams Work // Catalog of Scams - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract Many mobile phone users unknowingly face [...]
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