Are Victims Fraudsters Too?

Here is a question to ask yourself: Did you commit 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. while you were scammed?

Did you lie to others to get money to send the 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.?
Did you lie to others to send money to your scammer?

You do not need to respond to this post if you do not want to. But just answer it for yourself honestly!

This is one of those very difficult questions that eats at your soul.

There are THREE potential ways you – a 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. victim – may have committed fraud as a part of your scam:

LIED TO SEND MONEY

At a minimum, almost every scam victim lies about knowing the scammer when sending money through services like Western Union and Moneygram. These services are fully aware of how they are being used by criminals to launder money and ask specific questions to help victims see the light, but it also protects them since they both had to repay hundreds of millions of dollars to victims over their past failures.

By saying they really know the scammer, the victim lied. That is wire fraud.

It is very unlikely that you would ever be prosecuted, but it complicates everything. You need to understand this when expecting law enforcement to help you.

LIED TO GET MONEY

Very often, victims borrow money from friends and family, never telling them the truth or why they really wanted it/needed it. In other words, they lie to them.

So naturally, after the scam, it is difficult to come out and admit the scam because of the lies or fiction that was told to others. This is also the basis of a lot of the shameShame Shame is an unpleasant self-conscious emotion typically associated with a negative evaluation of the self; withdrawal motivations; and feelings of distress, exposure, mistrust, powerlessness, and worthlessness. and guilt that victims feel.

At some point a victim has to admit to this and ask for forgivenessForgiveness What Is Forgiveness? Psychologists generally define forgiveness as a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness., otherwise, it destroys the relationship and results in the permanent loss of trust. Of course, even after admitting it, your friends and family are unlikely to ever give you money again, but at least you can work on your recovery with a cleaner conscience.

BECAME A 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.

Becoming a money mule is actually a 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. offense and hundreds of them are now prosecuted every year in the United States alone. It is criminal because the muleMule 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 t