What Is Important To A Scam Victim Immediately After Discovering They Are In A Scam?
Discovering that you have fallen victim to a scam can be a devastating experience.
Scammers use a variety of tactics to deceive their victims and extract money or sensitive information from them. Once you realize that you have been scammed, it is important to take immediate action to minimize the damage and prevent further losses, and take back control.
After The Scam One Of The Most Important Steps You Can Take Is To Get Organized.
This means collecting and organizing the evidence and assessing what happened during the scam. This information can be valuable in helping law enforcement officials recover any stolen assets.
Getting organized also means reporting the scam to the appropriate authorities – usually your local police first, then to the Federal Trade Commission or your national cybercrime police units. Reporting the scam not only helps protect you, but it also helps prevent others from falling victim to the same scam.
In addition to reporting the scam, it is important to reach out to your financial institutions to notify them that you are a victim.
Then join a SCARS Support Group for Scam Victims. SCARS offers many online forums and support groups where victims can connect with each other and share information about their experiences. This can be a valuable source of emotional support, as well as a way to learn about new scams and how to avoid them in the future.
Getting organized after being scammed is essential for protecting yourself and preventing further losses. By keeping detailed records, reporting the scam, and connecting with other victims, you can take proactive steps to regain control and recover.
12 STEPS TO GAIN CONTROL OVER THE SITUATION
-
End the scam – stop all contact with the criminals – do not confront them!
-
Take time to access the situation – what was done, what information was shared, and how much money was lost!
-
How bad it is? Get a sense of how bad the damage is. Catalog all your loses
-
Get help and advice on how to go forward – from professionals, not amateurs! We are here to help you!
-
Join a professionally manage or facilitated support group – to sign up for a SCARS group visit support.AgainstScams.org
-
Accept that you are traumatized and need help!
-
Prepare the evidence – just what the police need
-
Report to your local police first. Insist that they take the report if needed
-
Report to financial institutions and give them the police report number
-
Take a deep breath and analyze your situation – develop ideas for a recovery plan
-
Find a professional trauma counselor or therapist – SCARS offers free counseling through our partnership with BetterHelp – visit membership.AgainstScams.org to learn more
-
Address your financial needs – getting assistance (if possible) but take control
AFTER THIS, YOU WILL NEED TO BEGIN LEARNING:
-
Why did this happen?
-
How they did what they did to you?
-
Can you recover your money?
-
How can you recover emotionally?
-
What damage did this do to your family and friends?
You will find those answers in our Psychology of Scams articles.
WORK YOUR RECOVERY PLAN!
-
Write out an actual plan of what you have to do
-
Focus on your emotional recover
-
Focus on your financial damage control
-
The rest is out of your hands!
SUMMARY
If a scam victim follows these steps they will be substantially better prepared to get the most of the opportunities that will come up for them.
Recovery is never easy for any scam victims but you can make it through this!
Remember that it was NOT YOUR FAULT!
This article is by:
SCARS™ – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
A scams & financial fraud crime victims assistance & crime prevention nonprofit organization headquartered in Miami Florida USA & Monterrey NL Mexico, with partners in more than 60 countries worldwide
If you are a Victim sign up for our FREE SCARS Support Groups at support.AgainstScams.org
To learn more about SCARS, or to Join, Volunteer, or Donate visit: AgainstScams.org
To see Scammer Photos visit www.ScammerPhotos.com
Contact Us: Contact@AgainstScams.org
-/ 30 /-
What do you think about this?
Please share your thoughts in a comment below!
Do You Need Support?
Get It Now!
SCARS provides the leading Support & Recovery program for relationship scam victims – completely FREE!
Our managed peer support groups allow victims to talk to other survivors and recover in the most experienced environment possible, for as long as they need. Recovery takes as long as it takes – we put no limits on our support!
SCARS is the most trusted support & education provider in the world. Our team is certified in trauma-informed care, grief counseling, and so much more!
To apply to join our groups visit support.AgainstScams.org
We also offer separate support groups for family & friends too.
Become a
SCARS STAR™ Member
SCARS offers memberships in our STAR program, which includes many benefits for a very low annual membership fee!
SCARS STAR Membership benefits include:
- FREE Counseling or Therapy Benefit from our partner BetterHelp.com
- Exclusive members-only content & publications
- Discounts on SCARS Self-Help Books Save
- And more!
To learn more about the SCARS STAR Membership visit membership.AgainstScams.org
To become a SCARS STAR Member right now visit join.AgainstScams.org
To Learn More Also Look At Our Article Catalogs
Scam & Crime Types
More SCARS
- ScamsNOW Magazine – ScamsNOW.com
- ContraEstafas.org
- ScammerPhotos.com
- AnyScam.com – reporting
- AgainstScams.org – SCARS Corporate Website
- SCARS YouTube Video Channel
![Natasha Nice - Impersonation Victim - Stolen Photos Used By Scammers - [UPDATED 2024] - ont he SCARS Institute RomanceScamsNOW.com - the Encyclopedia of Scams™](https://romancescamsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Natasha-Nice-1.png)
![Natasha Nice - Impersonation Victim - Stolen Photos Used By Scammers - [UPDATED 2024] - ont he SCARS Institute RomanceScamsNOW.com - the Encyclopedia of Scams™](https://romancescamsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/natasha-nice.png)
I really wish I had known about SCARS when I realized I had been scammed. I was able to put the recovery plan in this article in place but it was incomplete until I discovered SCARS. I now feel like I have a guided path to follow to fully recover. Thank you SCARS!