SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
Every Scam Victim Needs Support, Start With Trauma Counseling & Therapy
Getting The Right Support From The Beginning Can Make All The Difference! This Is Why SCARS Recommended Trauma Counseling
SCARS Recommends to all scam victims that they seek Trauma Counseling or Therapy!
If you are experiencing a crisis in your life (in the United States) please call 988 now or your local emergency services number.
Why is it important for scam victims to find Trauma Counseling & Therapy to help support them?
Being a victim of a scam can be a traumatic experience that can have a lasting impact on a person’s emotional and mental well-being. A scam can cause a range of emotions such as anger, betrayal, shame, guilt, and depression. Scam victims may also experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as flashbacks, nightmares, and difficulty trusting others. Trauma Counseling can help you over come this.
It is important for scam victims to find trauma counseling & therapy to help them process their feelings and emotions related to the scam. A therapist can provide a safe space for victims to talk about their experiences and help them understand and cope with their emotions. Therapy can also help victims work through feelings of guilt or shame, which can be common among scam victims.
Additionally, a trauma counselor or therapist can provide scam victims with practical tools to help them move forward and heal from the trauma, such as coping mechanisms and strategies for rebuilding trust. They can also help them in navigating the legal aspect of the scam and how to report it.
In summary, a therapist can provide scam victims with the emotional support and guidance they need to heal and move forward after a traumatic experience. It is important for victims of scams to seek professional help (Trauma Counseling) in order to process and cope with the emotional impact of the scam and to learn to trust again.
Never Be Ashamed To Ask For help!
Why scam victims should never be ashamed to ask for mental healthcare, counseling & therapy help?
Scam victims should never feel ashamed to ask for mental healthcare help for several reasons:
Firstly, being a victim of a scam is not something that a person should be ashamed of. Scammers are experts at manipulating and deceiving their victims, and anyone can fall prey to a scam. The shame and guilt that victims may feel is often a tactic used by scammers to keep their victims silent.
Secondly, seeking mental healthcare help is a sign of strength and resilience. It takes courage to admit that you need help and to reach out for support. It is a step towards healing and recovery, and it is an important step in the process of moving forward after a traumatic experience.
Thirdly, Mental healthcare professionals are trained to help people dealing with emotional trauma. Trauma Counselors have the knowledge and expertise to help scam victims process their emotions, cope with the aftermath of a scam, and develop strategies for healing and recovery. They will not judge you for falling for a scam, and they are there to support you.
Lastly, seeking mental healthcare help is important for maintaining overall well-being. The emotional effects of a scam can be long-lasting and can affect a person’s daily life, relationships, and ability to function. Mental healthcare professionals can help people manage the emotional distress caused by a scam, and prevent the development of more severe mental health conditions.
Seeking Trauma Counseling & Therapy help is not something to be ashamed of, it is a sign of strength, and it is an important step towards healing and recovery after being a victim of a scam.
If You Feel You Do Not Need Trauma Counseling & Therapy Right Now
SCARS offers free scam victim support groups for as long as you need them (subject to our terms and conditions.)
Our support and recovery programs are open-ended since not every victim recovers quickly. We are here to support you for as long as you need it.
To sign up for the FREE SCARS Support & Recovery services please visit support.AgainstScams.org (terms and conditions apply)
RESOURCES
Resources to find a trauma counselor or therapist:
- Worldwide Resources:
- www.opencounseling.com – a directory of free and low-cost Counseling & Therapy
- www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/trauma-and-ptsd – a directory of psychologists & trauma professionals worldwide
- www.betterhelp.com/therapists – a telehealth counseling & therapy provider – a SCARS Partner (learn more about receiving free therapy at membership.AgainstScams.org)
- www.nbcc.org/Search/CounselorFind – a director of psychologists
- www.talkspace.com – a telehealth counseling & therapy provider
- www.therapyroute.com – a directory of therapists and counselors worldwide
- www.openpathcollective.org – a directory of therapists and counselors
- United States Only
- In the U.S. you can call the NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Health) Hotline. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET
Call: 800-950-NAMI (6264) // Text: 62640 // Webchat: nami.org/help // Email: helpline@nami.org — NAMI HelpLine volunteers and staff have compiled this directory of outstanding resources to help you identify possible options to meet your needs.
- In the U.S. you can call the NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Health) Hotline. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET
MORE SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
If you feel that you suffer from depression or anxiety or other medical issues, you may need a psychiatrist.
Here are resources for you:
- Worldwide
- Contact your national health system
- United States
- In the U.S. you can go to any hospital and ask to speak with a psychiatrist on call.
- www.talkiatry.com a telehealth provider of psychiatry
SCARS STAR Membership
Please note that SCARS includes counseling & therapy benefits as a part of our SCARS STAR Membership program through our partner BetterHelp.com Please visit membership.AgainstScams.org to learn more.
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Table of Contents
- Trauma Counseling Helps Victims To Become Survivors
- Every Scam Victim Needs Support, Start With Trauma Counseling & Therapy
- Getting The Right Support From The Beginning Can Make All The Difference! This Is Why SCARS Recommended Trauma Counseling
- Never Be Ashamed To Ask For help!
- If You Feel You Do Not Need Trauma Counseling & Therapy Right Now
- RESOURCES
- SCARS STAR Membership
Rapid Report Scammers
In the U.S. & Canada
U.S. & Canada Suicide Lifeline 988
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ARTICLE META
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
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.
This article perfectly explains the need for all romance scam victims to seek trauma counseling. You can not recover on your own without it. The complex trauma suffered and asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of.
Joining the SCARS community has helped me navigate this painful, terrifying journey and turn it into one of self-discovery and healing. Thank you!
I agree with every point made in this article to advocate self-care through mental health care and maintenance. A criminal act such as a romance scam is a very trauma experience and not something one can overcome alone without proper guidance such as a mental health professional. I have found working with my trauma therapist enlightening and a relief to not walk this pathway alone.
Joining SCARS Institute, enrolled in survivor school to learn about the psychology of scams and going to therapy has been the best thing for my recovery journey. Thank you,
You are very welcome
Falei, recentemente, com Psiquiatra em consulta, na questão da terapia. Ela encontrou-me extremamente depressiva e com uma enorme privação de sono. Pelo que primeiro, vamos tentar tratar da depressão e do sono, porque sinais de trauma não lhe parecem existir