SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
If You Are A Scam Victim, What Do You Do If You Can’t Make Car Payments
Scam Victim Financial Survival Information
Portions Courtesy of the United States Federal Trade Commission
The Financial Crisis Scam Victims Face – Financial Survival
Being scammed can be a devastating experience, both emotionally and financially – Financial Survival can sometimes be as traumatic as the scam itself.
In addition to the emotional trauma of being deceived and violated, scam victims often face a significant financial survival challenges. The amount of money lost can vary depending on the type of scam, but even a small loss can have a major impact on a person’s finances.
The Financial Impact of Scams
The financial impact of scams can be devastating. Victims may have to dip into their savings or retirement accounts to cover their losses. They may also have to take on additional debt or even declare bankruptcy. In some cases, victims may lose their jobs or homes.
In addition to the immediate financial losses, scam victims may also experience long-term financial problems. They may have difficulty getting loans or credit cards, and they may have to pay higher interest rates. They may also be more likely to fall victim to scams in the future.
The Emotional Impact of Scams
The emotional impact of scams can be just as devastating as the financial impact. Victims may feel betrayed, angry, and ashamed. They may also have difficulty trusting others. This can lead to isolation, depression, and anxiety.
Saving Your Car – Scam Victim Financial Survival
According to the FTC
Trouble making car payments because of a scam?
Are you worried about repossession?
Unexpected life events, such as a major scam, can affect your ability to pay your bills, including car payments.
If you’re worried that you won’t be able to make your next car payment, take action as soon as possible. If you get behind on your payments, your lender could repossess your car — sometimes without warning. Read on to learn what to do.
- Contact your lender now. Don’t wait for the company to repossess your car. Many lenders will work with customers if they think you’ll be able to pay soon, even if the payments are slightly late. If your lender agrees to any changes, make sure you have them in writing for later.
- Find out what rights you have in your state. Check with your State Attorney General. States have their own rules about how cars can be repossessed and what happens after.
- See if you can refinance your loan. This could make sense if a lower interest rate or longer loan could make your car payment doable. Be aware that a longer loan with reduced payments could help your current situation but also could increase your total costs. Make sure you refinance with a credible lender or company.
But whatever you do, don’t try to avoid the problem by doing nothing.
Even if you have to miss a payment, don’t be afraid to talk to your lender to learn about your options. Taking action early may help you limit or avoid paying more fees. A repossession could make it harder and more costly to get credit in the future. And you might be on the hook for any difference between what your lender gets for selling the car and what you still owe on it, plus any fees related to the repossession.
More Scam Victim Financial Information:
- Scam Victim Finance & Money Recovery – Article Catalog (romancescamsnow.com)
- Understanding The Hard Times After The Scam (romancescamsnow.com)
- Next Steps – Protect Your Financial Identity (romancescamsnow.com)
- Online Banking Safety For Scam Victims – An Overview (romancescamsnow.com)
- Reclaiming Financial Control After A Scam (romancescamsnow.com)
- Scam Victims Debt Part 1 – Recognize It, Confront It, Control It, Survive It! (romancescamsnow.com)
- Scam Victims Debt Part 2: Debt Collection Scams & Managing Real Collections (romancescamsnow.com)
- Scam Victims Debt Part 3 – Collections & Your Rights (romancescamsnow.com)
- Scam Victim Debt Part 4: IRS/Tax Debt (romancescamsnow.com)
- Trouble Paying Your Mortgage or Facing Foreclosure? (romancescamsnow.com)
- Urgent Financial Assistance For Scam Victims (romancescamsnow.com)
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:
- FREE Counseling or Therapy Benefit from our partner BetterHelp.com
- Exclusive members-only content & publications
- Discounts on SCARS Self-Help Books Save
- And more!
To learn more about the SCARS STAR Membership visit membership.AgainstScams.org
To become a SCARS STAR Member right now visit join.AgainstScams.org
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Table of Contents
- Scam Victims Financial Survival
Saving Your Car & Dealing With Car Loan Payments- Helping To Overcome Scam Victim Financial Crisis
- If You Are A Scam Victim, What Do You Do If You Can’t Make Car Payments
- Scam Victim Financial Survival Information
- The Financial Crisis Scam Victims Face – Financial Survival
- Saving Your Car – Scam Victim Financial Survival
- More Scam Victim Financial Information:
- Do You Need Support?
Get It Now! - Become a
SCARS STAR™ Member - Scam Victim Self-Help Do-It-Yourself Recovery Books
- SCARS Printed Books For Every Scam Survivor From SCARS Publishing
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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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