SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
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SCARS OFFICIAL GREEN BOOK
THE SCARS STEPS PROGRAM – SELF-HELP SELF-PACES SCAM VICTIM RECOVERY PROGRAM GUIDE
A SCAM RECOVERY GUIDE FOR SCAM VICTIMS FROM SCARS
The SCARS GREEN BOOK helps you get over your scam!
This publication is to help Scam Victims recover from their scam experience – A Self-Help Self-Paced 8 Step Recovery Program From Scams & Online Fraud.
This was created by SCARS Authors: Tim McGuinness Ph.D., Debby Montgomery Johnson, Vianey Gonzalez, Chris Fromal, Sharon Armstrong, Vismaya Rubin, Lydia Zagorova
DESIGNED FOR SCAM VICTIMS!
This program is designed to help scam victims struggling to recover on their own and for those who want to understand the overall process. You can be using other resources, such as trauma counseling or therapy, qualified support groups, or completely independent – on your own!
This is a complete program and is provided for that purpose.
NOTE: When working with outside support providers (such as trauma counselors,) some aspects may not be as needed but still useful, but when you are facing recovery on your own – which we know that many scam victims will do – it is essential to have a complete program that you can follow, even if you do not perform everything contained in it.
You are encouraged to use this SCARS Program completely
We suggest that you:
- Follow the SCARS Steps Program step by step, but take your time. There is no hurry. Each step will happen when you are ready.
- Make sure that you do perform each Step – do not skip steps.
- We recommend that you also join a qualified support group and regularly participate!
This program was designed by the staff of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. [SCARS] the world’s leading crime victims’ assistance provider focused on scam victims in concert with a leading university-based upon our nearly 30 years of experience as a self-help program to assist in the recovery process for those that do not have other means or resources available to them for their scam recovery, or for those that are not ready to take the first step to seek trauma counseling or therapy.
After the trauma of being scammed, you need to take steps to recover and move on. This may be an alternative to counseling in the short term, but we still encourage you to seek out professional help & support.
YOUR OWN PSYCHOLOGY
Throughout this trauma-informed SCARS Steps Program, we speak about issues, challenges, defects, or problems that a victim may have in a generalized way.
Each person is different and it is important to understand your own reasons for being vulnerable to being scammed, how you were lured in, then groomed and manipulated, and then finally your reactions once it ended.
SCARS provides a large library of educational articles on all the topics of recovery from scams and the psychology of scams (on RomanceScamsNOW.com) to help victims better understand these concepts.
THIS GUIDE HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO HELP YOU IF YOU ARE THE VICTIM OF A SCAM! BUT YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP AND BEGIN THE STEPS TO GET THERE!
SECTIONS (THE STEPS)
- Step 1 Acceptance
- Step 2 Your Actions
- Step 3 Talk About It
- Step 4 Work On Yourself
- Step 5 Harm To Others
- Step 6 Repair The Harm
- Step 7 Admit Your Mistakes
- Step 8 Moving Forward
NOTE: Orders typically ship in 5-7 days after order. Mail delivery in the U.S. takes approximately 5-8 days for delivery. Orders outside of the U.S. using mail/postal delivery will take additional time for delivery.
- 60 pages
- Paperback
- 6×9 inches
- Perfect Bound (Paperback)
- Specially Created for Scam Victims
- Designed by SCARS
- Edition: 1b 2021
100% of all profit goes to help SCARS help more scam victims worldwide. Your generous purchase allows us to maintain our scam avoidance, support, and recovery services. Please help SCARS and stand proud.
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on Financial Recovery – Avoid Money Triggers – Perspective on Money for Scam Victims – 2023 [UPDATED 2025]: “This article is excellent. This is something I needed to read. Thank you!” Jun 18, 16:26
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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.
im sharon.i was scammed when i joined a dating site,I lost my entire saving my home my car the respect of my family an friends I shut myself away for two years now I’d like to help others I lost over 850,000 to one man I thought loved me and swore to God hed never hurt me. But he almost destroyed me It hurt my family because they almost lost me only God knows why iv made it threw these past two years but I made it and you can too
i dont want to comment or open my name in public. hoe can i give their telephone numbers
You could look at the website for how to report scammers. Put in a little effort.
I’M BEING SCAMMED BY A MAN NAMES HUNTER PHYLLIS SAY’S HE WORKS IN SYRIA ON A 30 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT. HE SAYS HE LOVE’S ME . HUNTER SENT A PHONY WORK DOCUMENT OF THIS HI-PAID PROJECT AND I WOULD RECEIVE 6% OF THIS, HE WANTS TO MARRY ME. (YEAH AND THE MOON IS ROYAL BLUE TOO), WHO WORKS WITH BERNARD BONSRA AND ERICK NYARKO, MY MONEY, IN CREDIT CARD’S WERE TAMPERED WITH THESE MEN PROFESSIONALLY TOOK $25.000 FROM MY CREDIT CARDS. MONEY WAS SENT TO ACCURA,GHANA AND ALSO TO GHANA MART. $490 IN FOOD, THEY USED MY CREDIT CARDS TO BUY APPLE PHONES,WORTH $5000 ( THESE MEN COULD BE TERROIST’S TO MAKE BOMBS WITH THESE PHONES), THAT WAS SENT TO BERNARD BONSRA AT THE ABOVE CITY & COUNTRY OF GHANA. I HAVE E-MAIL’S OF HUNTER AND PHONE NUMBERS OF THESE MEN AND PHONE NUMBER 800 OF GHANA MART…..i was truly robbed not that I give them money but, they tapped into my credit cards. Be carefull people.. What I do now is I called my credit card Companies, put a freeze on them, and undo the freeze when I want to use my cards, then freeze them again when I’m through shopping.
I’m being skyped daily by a sexy white girl claiming to be in Ghana. She keeps asking for foodstuffs through Ghanamart.com , I email with her, skype with her, have seen a woman claiming to be her Mother. Her microphone does not work and her cam freezes often, however when she wants me to see her in her skimpy lingerie I can. HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF SHES A SCAM???
It’s all just to much to believe for me… She also sent me a copy of her expired US Passport claiming she needs to renew it to come back to the US….???? Please contact me with info for my own understanding. I also have 3 phone numbers for her. I HAVE NOT YET SENT MONEY or anything to her…. It sounds way to good to be true. But I can see her on skype and it looks like she is in a very nice home or apartment probably here in the US.. LOL HELP me to understand this and whether it’s BS or could it be REAL???? Her name is Jessy Samadu… That’s on her US Passport expired in 2015.
You are being scammers. Period.
Is there a way to find out who she really is from the Passport photo she sent me? It appears as though she is skyping with me from the US as the inside of her house is very modern and furnished extravagantly by Ghana standards. How can she skype with me live and take showers and dance if shes fake? From my knowledge there are NO WHITE GIRLS in Ghana?? How are they doing this? Can I trace her somehow?
Don’t believe any of it. I was scammed out if 2300 dollars recently from Ghana. These bastards need to be stopped!
it is the Ghana Boys scam. These creeps are everywhere..If she is from Ghana forget it and move on..been there done that..She will also need airfare they are all the same scammers..Real scum of the earth..They need a bullet hole in their head.. That is the only way to stop them..It is such a massive fraud network the government can’t handle even a small per-centage of it..Again, she is from Ghana, move on and forget it..Using a stolen photo they pretend to be the woman and are very good at it..or use a video girlfriend.. Any time there equipment doesn’t work right..it is a warning..when they want to relocate, that is a warning..(airfare and passport renewal) (luggage)..they need food..sick child with a picture of the kid, not theirs or stolen. doctor bill, cell phone minutes, fix their phone, fix their computer or IPad..Mom and Dad need medicine..
all dating sites have scammers..some dating sites are scammers, fake photos and a couple of guys answering all the messaging not one real person..all fake. Profile bullshit, and they get your credit card number..You’re safer with a prostitute off the street and will save money in the long run.. EDW
Is there anyway to start alerting the people whose photos have been stolen….they are victims, too. In some cases, it seems like the pictures were collected for a period of the persons lifetime…say from teenage years on up to the forties. How horrible!
My first scammer on the dating site Match…sent me pics of two seperate men….claiming to be the same guy. Unbelievable…and got really angry when I wrote—you look so different in these pictures…your eye and hair color and height appearl totally different. They are careless as well…scrutinize all pics even backgrounds.
THE REAL PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO BE CONTACTED BY OTHER VICTIMS. THEY ARE WELL AWARE THEIR PHOTOS WERE USED. WE AND OTHER GROUPS HAVE ALREADY ALERTED THEM.
The man I met we talked on phone for hours he had all excuses for needing money I sent cashier’s checks to different company’s in states tho he say he was in Malaysia in ten minutes he would give me account numbers I did this dozens of times I moneygramed lot of money to men named rahem ali ,Patrick carrick, miles edwards,even name he used John slates to Malaysia iv never known how he could get money sent to real company’s names here in states are money grams I found out his photos were not him but of a pen state announcer dean davore also he was a weatherman everything about him was lies but he still calls me ask for more money i don’t answer him back text all the time too there comes a time when you’ve gave everything that you see you ment nothing to him for your own sake for get these people block them never talk to them again ,find someone real to love
Sharon ruisinger – In your case it is not as simple as just ignoring the scammer. You acted as a MULE for him. You engaged in fraud by mail, banking fraud, and could be facing jail time. Your best option is to talk to your local police immediately and file a complaint against the scammer, and identify everyone you had contact with, If you say nothing they can come after you believing you are a co-conspirator and accomplice. This is very serious.
Please join the class action suit against Facebook…Also if you reside in the USA…Report scams to the FTC.
I meet this girl in Facebook where we developed feelings if romance where she lives in Germany where she wanted me to pay for her and her daughter to live with me in them United States so I made reservations through Amircian Airlines but just when we were getting close to have here flight to leave she said she wanted to first get her inherantance from her late father who was murdered in Midrid, Spain last year. So , Melina Axel Adrain goes to Bahrain to claim the her father’s inherantance where now I am into $60,000.00 thousand dollars into this scam and now she said to get all of the necessary papers to release these funds I need to send a additional $69,000.00 to release these funds from Bahrain. I have copies of all documentation and her picture passport of Her Germain passport. What is my legal recorse here?
The old inherantance scam is one of the most horrible..they are get there money and need to send it to you..(gold silver bars or bullshit)..fake attorney, fake documents, a real scam never fall for that again will you? Nothing you can do, except cry contact the FBI or track them down yourself and put them under the ground..The government can’t touch them until they find them and they are gone..She never existed, her daughter never existed, and until they took money from you..what they were doing was legal..creating fake people that dont exist isn’t against the law..pretending to be them isn’t either..you cant prove they dont exist until you catch them, then they tell the police that there isn’t anyone living there with her name..fake
Is there a class action lawsuit going on Facebook about the Scammers at this moment ?? If so how do I find it to sign my name on it ? I lost my life savings to a Scammer off of Facebook and I have tried to get him throwed off more than once.. He still has 7 are 8 profiles on Facebook under the name he used during our suppose to be relationship.
NOT YET – THERE ARE SEVERAL LAW FIRMS CONSIDERING ACTIONS OF THIS TYPE – BUT GOING AGAINST FACEBOOK IS ALMOST THE SCARIEST THING ON THE PLANET – EVEN NORTH KOREA WOULD BE EASIER. NOT MANY LAWFIRMS ARE WILLING TO INVEST $50,0000,000 INTO SUCH A LAW SUIT!
My experience of online dating scams led to my inspiration to write a book to give me (the victim) a happy ending if only in a fictional context! It is dedicated to women everywhere and the need for us to be there for each other and it is getting very good reviews as detailed below.
Well I finished Exactly 23 days and I Absofuckinglutelylovedit! Not my usual sort of read but it had me gripped. The ending OMG! Seriously, I read it every spare minute I had. I couldn’t put it down. Bit bloody clever you are! When’s the next one out Jayne because I really loved it. Seriously. Brilliant. It put a smile on my face and a lump in my throat, on several occasions. Well done you. Get back to that desk of yours and pen a new one. NOW. (male 40’s Oct 2016)
Exactly 23 days is available from https://completelynovel.com/books/exactly-23-days, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Goggle Books.
I was wondering if this person is for real details are: Ryan Rangers/ E7 Sergeant First Class at Army
Has never requested anything but did say that he could not go leave from deployment unless someone
like a wife, fiancée , signed for him. I then read on a site about some military protocol. Me thinks
it is just a little lie, what do you think? Why are we so naïve.
Don’t need the comment, I researched myself. Romance scammer. WE need to educate ourselves about who we are friends with on FB, as well as any other dating sites. Above all stay vigilant.
God Bless Julie. L.
You have to forgive the scammer?
Thats exactly what they afterward requested from me too. Yet later on trying to even rip more munah.
No! I tell you what to do here. You set an example in revenge that beats all the actions what they served to the victims before and share it right to their family clan audience on social media. The more doing it, the faster it will stop.
Anger makes you stupid. You were already dumb enough to be scammed in the first place, making one bad decision after another is not a great way to go. And how would you get revenge on someone that lives half a world away? You can deal with your situation or not, that is a choice.
It takes no courage to rant, hiding behind Google is easy. It takes courage to face yourself and move on!
I agree with this. How can you even try to have revenge on someone that is not there. It is a fake profile you would be taking revenge on. A better way would be to set the scammer aside, and deal with your own problem, whatever it is that has made you vulnerable in the first place? This does not have to be something where you bash yourself. It can be something that starts the healing process for you. Maybe start a daily journal and record your feelings and your dreams. You will be surprised to find that you might have the answer there already..
HI Tim, and the team. This is certainly a really STRONG program. Quite scary, at times, but I am sure that it will help to start a recovery for a person who is lost in the thrones of understanding the scam he/she is involved in. I have written a book called ‘Love on the Line’ and through that experience of writing out my story, learning to understand the relationships between the world we live in and the scamming phenomena and believing in that we now can re-create our own ‘happy ending’ with no blame or self-beating involved, we can start the long recovery process. I think that it is a lot about forgiving yourself also. Thank you for the program. I will share it around, Warmly Elina Juusola