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SCARS™ Scam Basics: The Ethics Of Warning Other Victims

Many Victims Find Still Other Victims When Hunting For Scammers Online. Is It A Good Idea To Warn Them That They Are Being Scammed?

This is an interesting ethical question and it depends on the context of the situation.

There are two types of victims that you will likely encounter out there in social media:

Scam Victims – involved in or being groomed to be a victim by the scammer
Scam Money Mules – participating in the scam and engaged in money laundering – usually, without any idea that they are doing it

SCAM VICTIMS

When you are viewing a typical fake or scammer social media profile you will see a number of people commenting or engaging with the scammer and your first impulse is to warn them.

Unfortunately, their reactions may not be what you would expect. If they are fully engaged with the scammer – meaning in the relationship, then you are going to appear hostile to them and their relationship. If they are more casual then alerting them can help create a better outcome, but the problem is how to know?

Additionally, alerting strangers that you see on a fake profile can have consequences to you personally. They can report you to the social media platform – this can result in suspension or loss of your account.

Therefore, what we recommend is to “TAG” the profile as fake and let the victims decide for themselves.

How to TAG?

First, make sure that your personal profile is locked down and that only your friends can see anything – so that you are not leading a trail of bugs back to your home, family, and friends
Next, post a graphic that identifies the profile as fake – this can be done in a comment very easily – especially a comment on a scammer’s post that has a lot of victim activity.

Here is the graphic we recommend:

You can download this graphic here: https://romancescamsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/hello-my-name-is-fake-profile-bomb.png
YOU ARE FREE TO POST IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILES THAT ARE FAKE

We call these “Fake Bombs.” It is the best way to TAG a profile as being fake and generally, the scammers will not even see them. Worse case they will block you. But this is very visual and a clear warning to those already on the profile and those that come later (assuming it survives).

In the end, it is a better solution and just remember, that we do only what we can do!

MONEY MULES

Money Mules are a different animal! (Pun intended)

In our opinion. It is generally pointless to inform the MULE directly. In fact, it may be actually dangerous to other victims.

The best approach would simply be to (if you live in the U.S. or Canada) to call the local police and report the MONEY MULE to them. Emphasize to the police that this is a MONEY MULE and is probably completely unaware they are being used by a scammer. You have to tell the police certain magic words, like MONEY MULE and involved in MONEY LAUNDERING and collecting money from other victims.

Why do this?

If the police show up to speak to the MULE, they will have access to all of the information about what the MULE has done and what money the MULE was received. This could help stop other victims from losing more money.

On the other hand, if YOU speak to the MULE – what would be the natural reaction? FEAR and they will try to destroy or hide information that could lead to and help other victims.

It also does something else: When the cops eventually show up, and if the MULE had fore-knowledge of their activity and tried to hide it in any way, they have committed additional crimes and are more likely to face consequences – such as charges for Obstruction of justice, destroying evidence, and more.

So you see that in reality, it is better to let the police deal with MULES.

They are not normal victims to be warned off. Also, the MULE’S unawareness is their best defense. But once warned it could go radically wrong for them depending on what they do!

ETHICS MATTERS IN WHAT WE ALL DO!

PLEASE SHARE OUR ARTICLES WITH YOUR CONTACTS
HELP OTHERS STAY SAFE ONLINE

SCARS™ Team
A SCARS Division
Miami Florida U.S.A.

TAGS: Ethics, Money Mules, Money Laundering, Police Action, Scam Victims, Alerting Victims, Tag Fake Profiles, Tagging Fakes, Fake Social Media Profiles, Social Media Accounts, Scams, Scammers,

END

MORE INFORMATION

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Tell us about your experiences with Romance Scammers in our Scams Discussion Forum on Facebook »

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FAQ: How Do You Properly Report Scammers?

It is essential that law enforcement knows about scams & scammers, even though there is nothing (in most cases) that they can do.

Always report scams involving money lost or where you received money to:

Local Police – ask them to take an “informational” police report – say you need it for your insurance
Your National Police or FBI (www.IC3.gov »)
The SCARS|CDN™ Cybercriminal Data Network – Worldwide Reporting Network HERE » or on www.Anyscam.com »

This helps your government understand the problem, and allows law enforcement to add scammers on watch lists worldwide.

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Visit our NEW Main SCARS Facebook page for much more information about scams and online crime: www.facebook.com/SCARS.News.And.Information »

To learn more about SCARS visit www.AgainstScams.org

Please be sure to report all scammers HERE » or on www.Anyscam.com »

Legal Notices:

SCARS, RSN, Romance Scams Now, SCARS|WORLDWIDE, SCARS|GLOBAL, SCARS, Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams, Society of Citizens Against Romance Scams, SCARS|ANYSCAM, Project Anyscam, Anyscam, SCARS|GOFCH, GOFCH, SCARS|CHINA, SCARS|CDN, SCARS|UK, SCARS Cybercriminal Data Network, Cobalt Alert, Scam Victims Support Group, are all trademarks of Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Incorporated.

Contact the law firm for the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Incorporated by email at legal@AgainstScams.org

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Important Information for New Scam Victims

Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
Enroll in FREE SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org
Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery

If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org

If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines

A Note About Labeling!

We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!

A Question of Trust

At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.

Statement About Victim Blaming

SCARS Institute articles examine different aspects of the scam victim experience, as well as those who may have been secondary victims. This work focuses on understanding victimization through the science of victimology, including common psychological and behavioral responses. The purpose is to help victims and survivors understand why these crimes occurred, reduce shame and self-blame, strengthen recovery programs and victim opportunities, and lower the risk of future victimization.

At times, these discussions may sound uncomfortable, overwhelming, or may be mistaken for blame. They are not. Scam victims are never blamed. Our goal is to explain the mechanisms of deception and the human responses that scammers exploit, and the processes that occur after the scam ends, so victims can better understand what happened to them and why it felt convincing at the time, and what the path looks like going forward.

Articles that address the psychology, neurology, physiology, and other characteristics of scams and the victim experience recognize that all people share cognitive and emotional traits that can be manipulated under the right conditions. These characteristics are not flaws. They are normal human functions that criminals deliberately exploit. Victims typically have little awareness of these mechanisms while a scam is unfolding and a very limited ability to control them. Awareness often comes only after the harm has occurred.

By explaining these processes, these articles help victims make sense of their experiences, understand common post-scam reactions, and identify ways to protect themselves moving forward. This knowledge supports recovery by replacing confusion and self-blame with clarity, context, and self-compassion.

Additional educational material on these topics is available at ScamPsychology.org – ScamsNOW.com and other SCARS Institute websites.

Psychology Disclaimer:

All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only

The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.

While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.

Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.

If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.

Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here to go to our ScamsNOW.com website.

SCARS™ Scam Basics: The Ethics Of Warning Other Victims

Many Victims Find Still Other Victims When Hunting For Scammers Online. Is It A Good Idea To Warn Them That They Are Being Scammed?

This is an interesting ethical question and it depends on the context of the situation.

SCAM VICTIMS