SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
COMING SOON
Important Information For New & Past Scam Victims
In the Next Month We will be Building A New Section For Scam Victims
SCARS Police Interaction Support & Guidance For Scam Victims
This new guide for scam victims will include features of benefit to both scam victims and their local police departments to help bring an end to the poor understanding that the police have about scams.
SCARS literally wrote the guide for law enforcement that has been distributed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security since 2019, but it has not been enough for them to receive it in their email. Victims need to play the role of activist and walk this information in the door and hand it to their local police chiefs.
In this new section of our website, we will have:
- How victims should interact with their local police and how to prepare – this is available now here for free! Plus we recommend using the SCARS RED BOOK Scam/Crime Organizer available for a small cost at the SCARS Store here.
- Police contact Complaint Forms – that you can fill in to complain about poor treatment during your reporting to the local police, or if you did not receive your victim’s rights required by law – these should work for any locality or country – this is coming
- The SCARS COBALT BOOK™ – a guide for law enforcement interactions with scam victims, 2021 Edition. This will be available in PDF (free) and in BOOK Form (small cost) – this is coming
- Advice for victims on how to remain connected with law enforcement – how to follow up to stay aware of what is being done and also to apply pressure on law enforcement to take action on money mules that may be within their jurisdiction – this is coming
- How to direct law enforcement to go after the recovery of your money – INTERPOL publishes a guide for the police to walk them through this process when bank wire transfers were used – this is already published here!
- Your victim’s rights – a by-country guide to your rights as a victim of crime – this is coming
- Participate in a major complaint against the FBI for potentially violating your crime victim rights – if you reported your scam through the FBI’s IC3.gov website and never heard from them again – this is published here!
- How to demand that your local district or state attorney go after mules – this is coming and will help you make complaints and apply pressure on the prosecutor’s office to prosecute mules that helped scammers steal your money – this is coming
- How to demand that your local police notify Facebook, Social Media, and Websites of Fake & Scammer profiles to be removed – this will include both tools for victims and for the police, including form templates that they can send by mail to Facebook legal and other entities to shut down scammer specific activity – this is coming
We do not normally announce new features on our website, or services of SCARS before they are ready. However, we have been conducting a study of scam victim interaction with their police and felt this can no longer wait!
As a crime victims’ assistance nonprofit organization, our goal is to help scam victims obtain their rights and to be able to work with law enforcement in the most effective way. Similarly, we are here to help the police better understand how to help and interact with scam victims appropriately, and consistently with their rights as victims of crime.
We will update this page as these sections are published and available!
If you have had a bad experience with your police, please tell us about it in a comment below!
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ARTICLE META
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
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
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.
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