• COMMENTARY - ABOUT SCAM REPORTS 3
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SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years

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A Comment About Reporting

From the Romance Scams Now Team

As we have said many times, you have to be thorough and meticulous in the information that you report. Report everything you can get, and if you don’t have much, keep the scammer engaged until you have everything possible: recipient’s names, phone numbers, emails, address, everything you can get.

But reporting is just the start!

Why? Because in some of these countries the local police will not believe you. They view this as a voluntary transaction between you and the fraudster. Meaning, that no crime took place, or at least it happened outside their country.
 
Malaysia is great for taking this seriously though, and they do go after scammers, but it takes multiple reports before they act.
 
In the Philippines, most scams are of no importance to the local police, but their NBI has also good about following up. But they have so many scam, and child porn complaints, they are overwhelmed, so they prioritize their resources.
 
However, in Western Africa, we have found it more useful to go after scammers using different tactics. Namely the money. We have been successful approaching it as TAX fraud, and operating a criminal gang. It’s about following the money, because this is what get’s their attention.
 
We are sorry to say that a single victim will not get much attention in the source countries, though it is important to report it regardless, if for no other reason than you can get some tax relief in your country (a deduction).
 
Reporting is the starting point for us. We look for patterns, and multiple reports tracking back to a single team or location. We look for things like IP addresses, to track them to the cyber cafes. We work to identify multiple recipients and try to flag Western Union and other agencies, though the problem is that YOU told Western Union this was not a scam transaction.
 
Of course you can personally hire an investigator in the source country at an average cost of between $500 to $5000 to track down a scammer, but as we said, just tracking one down doesn’t usually result in an arrest or getting your money back.
 
Please don’t be discouraged by this, your reports are critical – they are filling the pieces of the puzzle that can lead to action. Just don’t expect a single scam report to yield immediate action. It just doesn’t work that way.
Published On: February 6th, 2016Last Updated: March 24th, 2022Categories: Impersonation & Identity Theft ScamsTags: , , , , , , , ,

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Important Information for New Scam Victims

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.

If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.