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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
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Do You Need Support?
Get It Now!
SCARS provides the leading Support & Recovery program for relationship scam victims – completely FREE!
Our managed peer support groups allow victims to talk to other survivors and recover in the most experienced environment possible, for as long as they need. Recovery takes as long as it takes – we put no limits on our support!
SCARS is the most trusted support & education provider in the world. Our team is certified in trauma-informed care, grief counseling, and so much more!
To apply to join our groups visit support.AgainstScams.org
We also offer separate support groups for family & friends too.
Become a
SCARS STAR™ Member
SCARS offers memberships in our STAR program, which includes many benefits for a very low annual membership fee!
SCARS STAR Membership benefits include:
To learn more about the SCARS STAR Membership visit membership.AgainstScams.org
To become a SCARS STAR Member right now visit join.AgainstScams.org
PLEASE SHARE SO OTHERS WILL KNOW
Scam Victim Self-Help Do-It-Yourself Recovery Books
SCARS Printed Books For Every Scam Survivor From SCARS Publishing
Visit shop.AgainstScams.org
Each is based on our SCARS Team’s 32-plus years of experience.
SCARS Website Visitors receive an Extra 10% Discount
Use Discount Code “romanacescamsnow” at Checkout
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!
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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.