Last Updated on January 1, 2021 by SCARS Editorial Team

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 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. is laundering stolen money (or other property) for online criminals.

Mules receive money (or property) from other victims and forward it to the scammers, or they allow the scammer to access and use their financial accounts (credit cards and banking).

Law enforcement and prosecutors are growing increasingly intolerant of money or parcel mules since they are sustaining these criminal enterprises. All major global law enforcement agencies are arresting mules regularly that do not come forward and cooperate. If a mule really did not know they were being used, then they are not likely to face criminal charges – but they must report their participation to the police. If they do not and are discovered – which they will be – then they face charges for money launderingMoney laundering Money laundering is the illegal process of concealing the origins of money obtained illegally by passing it through a complex sequence of banking transfers or commercial transactions. Money laundering can be done through various mediums, leveraging a variety of payment vehicles, people and institutions. and possibly obstruction of justice for hiding the crime, and even being an accessory to the crime.

VERY IMPORTANT

If you did any of these, we strongly recommend that you contact an attorney for professional legal advice. Do not simply accept something you read online, as your future freedom may be at stake. You may also be facing significant civil liability – as in the people you harmed can sue you.

Admitting The Truth

Alcoholics Anonymous has a step where alcoholics must admit the harm they caused others as a critical step in their recovery. But the reason it is so important is to remove the guilt that causes further life-long traumaTrauma Emotional and psychological trauma is the result of extraordinarily stressful events that shatter your sense of security, making you feel helpless in a dangerous world. Psychological trauma can leave you struggling with upsetting emotions, memories, and anxiety that won’t go away. It can also leave you feeling numb, disconnected, and unable to trust other people. Traumatic experiences often involve a threat to life or safety or other emotional shocks, but any situation that leaves you feeling overwhelmed and isolated can result in trauma, even if it doesn’t involve physical harm. It’s not the objective circumstances that determine whether an event is traumatic, but your subjective emotional experience of the event. The more frightened and helpless you feel, the more likely you are to be traumatized. Trauma requires treatment, either through counseling or therapy or through trauma-oriented support programs, such as those offered by SCARS. and guilt. That guilt is toxic, but it is easily removed.

By admitting the truth – hard as it is – you can free your soul, cast aside the shame and the guilt. It does not mean that some shame will not remain, but you have been truthful with people you lied to. This is cathartic and therapeutic.

It does not mean that things will be ok between you and them, in fact, they will probably not trust you for a while, but in your heart, you know you have finally been honest. You also give permission to your friends and family to forgiveForgiveness 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. you. If you maintain the lies, how can anyone forgive you?

A dishonest life is what we expect from scammers, not for ourselves. No one should have to sustain this burden when it can be relieved by just telling the truth to those affected.

If you want to respond to this post, just respond in one way: that you pledge to be truthful with everyone!

Just remember truth is not attitude or 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. – those are the wrappers around your truth – the truth is not about other people – your truth is only about yourself!

This is one of the reasons why our organization is adamant about people engaging in deception against scammers (Scam BaitingScam 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,) because there is no justification for victims to turn themselves into scammers. If you do what scammers do, then you become them.

Recovery Begins With You

Remember, no one can fix or save you. This comes from within and begins with the truth about what happened, what part you playing in beginning it, and sustaining it. This is not about 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. but about truth. You cannot recover from something, much less avoid it in the future, if you cannot truthfully admit what happened. In this case the truth does set you free, painfully at first, but in the end, you shed the burden and can live with yourself.

We are here to help you if you will let us – through our scam victim support groupsSupport Groups In a support group, members provide each other with various types of help, usually nonprofessional and nonmaterial, for a particular shared, usually burdensome, characteristic, such as romance scams. Members with the same issues can come together for sharing coping strategies, to feel more empowered and for a sense of community. The help may take the form of providing and evaluating relevant information, relating personal experiences, listening to and accepting others' experiences, providing sympathetic understanding and establishing social networks. A support group may also work to inform the public or engage in advocacy. They can be supervised or not. SCARS support groups are moderated by the SCARS Team and or volunteers. and forums.

 

 

TAGS: SCARS, The Truth, Victims Commit Fraud, Lying To Others, Victims Recovery, Scam Victim Recovery, Admitting The Truth, Forgiveness, Information About Scams, Anti-Scam, Scams, Scammers, Fraudsters, Cybercrime, Crybercriminals, Romance Scams, Scam Victims,

 

 

 

 

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