REPORT ALL SCAMS!
SCARS Institute™ Encyclopedia of Scams™ RomanceScamsNOW.com
Continuously Published for 26 Years – Since 2000
Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. [SCARS]
is a publication of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. [registered dba SCARS]
- Join the SCARS Institute Survivors Support Community www.SCARScommunity.org
- Corporate Address: 9561 Fontainebleau Blvd., Suite 602, MIAMI, FL 33172
- Email: contact@AgainstScams.org
- Phone: (786) 835-7947 (Sorry, Phone Based Support Is Not Available)
- Please Note: On-site and Phone Support Not Available
To use this website, You Must Read and Agree to the SCARS Legal Policies and Terms and Conditions
Find SCARS™ All Across The Web & Social Media
LEGAL STATEMENT
The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
Website and All Original Content, Concepts, and Intellectual Property Copyright © 1995 – 2026 | All Rights Reserved | Third-party Copyrights Acknowledged | Some Images Reproduced As Legal Record Of Criminal Use By Third-parties | Evidence Photos Used To Report Their Use In Criminal Fraud | In Some Cases The Persons Pictured In Photos Are Victims Of Identity Theft Unless Otherwise Indicated
Scam Victim’s Stories are presented with the permission of the author.
SCARS Institute™, Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams™, Society of Citizens Against Romance Scams™, SCARS|RSN™, Romance Scams Now™, SCARS|EDUCATION™, SCARS|SUPPORT™, SCARS|INTERNATIONAL™, SCARS|CHINA™, SCARS|UK™, SCARS|CANADA™, SCARS|LATINOAMERICA™, SCARS|MEMBERS™, SCARS|CDN™, Cybercrime Data Network™, AgainstScams™, Act AgainstScams™, Sludge Report™, Scam Victim Support Group™, RSN Steps™/SCARS Steps™, ScamCrime™, ScamsOnline™, Anyscam™, Cobalt Alert™, SCARS|GOFCH™, Global Online Fraud Clearinghouse™, SCARS|CERT™, RED BOOK™, BLUE BOOK™, GREEN BOOK™, Scam Organizer™ – in any form are trademarks of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Incorporated | Contact us at contact@AgainstScams.org for any issues about content displayed. visit To Learn More About SCARS Trademarks, Service Marks, and Indicia
SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
Open Letter To Local Police Officers & Police Leadership
Helping Law Enforcement Understand Why Reporting Matters
Open Letter to Local Police – SCARS Commentary
Attention Police Officers And Leadership – Local Police Please Take Victims’ Reports
We have to change the mentality of the local police in the United States regarding Scams & Financial Fraud crimes.
Our local police do a great job, but the fact is that crime victims are being denied their right to report these crimes every minute of every day is unacceptable.
Scam victims contact their local police to report these crimes and are turned away because local police often do not want unsolvable crimes on their books!
These victims are profoundly traumatized to begin with, trauma equivalent to that of sexual assault or domestic abuse. Your local police officers need to understand this.
The reason why 97% (or more) scam victims DO NOT REPORT is that they hear from each other just how difficult it is to report these crimes to their local police.
Reporting EVERY crime matters!
We ask all local police to be the professionals we know they are and take these crime victims’ reports.
The local report may not be something you can investigate, but more often now you can – in more and more cases, you can recover the victim’s money. Plus these victims need to declare themselves as innocent victims since more and more of them are being prosecuted just for being victims and sending money to the transnational criminals that controlled them.
The National Police Association wants you to take these reports also – READ THIS: https://nationalpolice.org/why-reporting-crime-matters
Financial fraud IS NOT a victimless crime. 20 or more victims take their life each DAY in the U.S. because of these crimes. These are violations, an act of violence against the elderly all the way down to teens.
We ask you to train your local police teams so they stop thinking this is a joke and respect the victim’s rights. Take the report!
1 in 10 Americans will be the victim of a scam each year! The victims are our parents and grandparents, our siblings, and our children, our spouses. At a minimum 10% of your community has been victimized, but it is made so difficult to report these crimes that you are unaware, victims are giving up – they do not want to report them now.
These crimes are larger than gun violence, drugs, and terrorism combined. They destroy more lives too! You need to learn what these really are and how important you are in helping the victims of these crimes.
Together, we have to change this perception that these are not crimes or that they are poison cases. these crime victims depend on you! And so does SCARS (AgainsScams.org) – we advocate for victims worldwide!
Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth
Managing Director
Society of Citzens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
www.AgainstScams.org contact@AgainstScams.org
♦♦♦ PLEASE SHARE ♦♦♦
Always Report All Scams – Anywhere In The World To:
Go to reporting.AgainstScams.org to learn how
U.S. FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/?orgcode=SCARS and SCARS at www.Anyscams.com
Visit reporting.AgainstScams.org to learn more!
-/ 30 /-
What do you think about this?
Please share your thoughts in a comment below!
Table of Contents
ARTICLE CATEGORIES
New U.S. Law – S.3643 – 118th Congress – Will Dramatically Impact Scammers and Terrorists – 2026
An Essay on Justice and Money Recovery – 2026
7 Deadly Sins of Post Scam Victim Vulnerability – 2023 UPDATED 2026
United States Scam Center Strike Force – 2025 – VIDEO
The Scam States of Southeast Asia – 2025-2026
Elicitation – A Scammer’s Manipulation Technique – 2025
Rapid Report Scammers
Visit SCARS www.Anyscam.com
Quick Reporting
Subscribe & New Item Updates
In the U.S. & Canada
U.S. & Canada Suicide Lifeline 988
LEAVE A COMMENT?
Thank you for your comment. You may receive an email to follow up. We never share your data with marketers.
Recent Comments
On Other Articles
ARTICLE META
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
SCARS Institute articles examine different aspects of the scam victim experience, as well as those who may have been secondary victims. This work focuses on understanding victimization through the science of victimology, including common psychological and behavioral responses. The purpose is to help victims and survivors understand why these crimes occurred, reduce shame and self-blame, strengthen recovery programs and victim opportunities, and lower the risk of future victimization.
At times, these discussions may sound uncomfortable, overwhelming, or may be mistaken for blame. They are not. Scam victims are never blamed. Our goal is to explain the mechanisms of deception and the human responses that scammers exploit, and the processes that occur after the scam ends, so victims can better understand what happened to them and why it felt convincing at the time, and what the path looks like going forward.
Articles that address the psychology, neurology, physiology, and other characteristics of scams and the victim experience recognize that all people share cognitive and emotional traits that can be manipulated under the right conditions. These characteristics are not flaws. They are normal human functions that criminals deliberately exploit. Victims typically have little awareness of these mechanisms while a scam is unfolding and a very limited ability to control them. Awareness often comes only after the harm has occurred.
By explaining these processes, these articles help victims make sense of their experiences, understand common post-scam reactions, and identify ways to protect themselves moving forward. This knowledge supports recovery by replacing confusion and self-blame with clarity, context, and self-compassion.
Additional educational material on these topics is available at ScamPsychology.org – ScamsNOW.com and other SCARS Institute websites.
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.