SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
A Warning To Women Across The United States
In the wake of the Supreme Court Decision to return legal control of abortions back to the States, almost everyone is concerned over what is legal or not.
Rumors, urban legends, and fake news are completely out of control, leaving women very concerned over what was, is, and will be legal in their state.
Scammers are on top of the news too and have crafted a carefully engineered new phone scam to target women confused about these issues.
What This Scam Is & How Does It Work:
Scammers call women – probably based on their social media, but they may also have access to information from data breaches.
They are telling women that they had an abortion that violated the law and they are going to be arrested.
They demand immediate payment of a fine or they will have the sheriff come to arrest them.
They direct them to buy gift cards or go to a cryptocurrency ATM to make the payment – often with the scammers staying on the call to make sure the victim complies and provides the information to confirm the transaction.
Once payment has been made, the scammers tell the victims they have been cleared of the charges.
Of course, this is nothing but yet another scam.
How To Avoid This Scam?
- First, we recommend that you never answer calls from numbers you do not recognize.
- No law enforcement agency or court is going to call you over something like this. If you pick up the call and they start talking about any fine you may own, hang up immediately.
- Block that phone number!
- Tell your friends about this so they will know too!
- Be careful, as they may also attempt to contact you through your social media or email as well
What To Do If You Have Been Scammed!
First, report this to your local police – they are your first responders. Ask to speak with a detective from the fraud department.
Then always report all scams to the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/?orgcode=SCARS
And to SCARS at www.Anyscam.com
Optionally, you can also report to the FBI at www.IC3.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI – when reporting to the FBI, because of the nature of this crime, we suggest you identify it as a gender-based hate crime against women.
It is also recommended to report the phone number that appeared in the caller ID (if any) to the Federal Communications Commission here: https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us/articles/115002234203-Unwanted-Calls-Phone-
Know Your Rights
Remember, that you should not be afraid.
The Supreme Court decision overturned previous decisions. This re-established the control by State law, and the procedure was legal in most states. It is important to find out what the law is in your state of residence now. We recommend that if you are concerned that you speak with your attorney regarding your status and potential risks.
We suggest that you might read this also: https://aul.org/2010/04/23/why-the-states-did-not-prosecute-women-for-abortion-before-roe-v-wade/
Remember that there is a huge amount of fake news about these issues and you should not automatically believe the doom stories. Look for reliable sources of information from legal professionals and not any politically motivated groups. Especially take note of statements made by your state Attorney General’s office since they have the authority on these issues now.
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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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