Preparing for the Next Scam Fraud or Cybercrime
Often Scam Victims are Scammed Multiple Times, But Preparing For the Next One Can Make All the Difference!
Psychology of Scams – A SCARS Institute Insight
Authors:
• SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
Originally Published: 2012 – Article Updated: 2023
Article Abstract
Scam victims are particularly vulnerable to being targeted again after their first experience, often creating emotional and psychological barriers to their own recovery.
These barriers are rooted in betrayal trauma, maladaptive schemas like “no one is trustworthy,” and cognitive biases that distort their ability to accept help. Victims may avoid support, cling to unrealistic expectations of recovery, or let emotions cloud their judgment, making it harder to heal.
Recognizing these internal barriers and taking proactive steps to overcome them—such as seeking support, practicing self-compassion, and staying vigilant—are crucial for moving forward and building resilience against future scams.
How to Prepare for the Next Scam or Cybercrime: A Guide for Scam Victims
September is National Preparedness Month, and it’s the perfect time for all of us to sit down and think about how we can be better prepared for the future, especially when it comes to scams or cybercrimes. For scam victims, the stakes are even higher because after experiencing one scam, you may be more vulnerable to another. It’s crucial to be prepared—not just for a close call, but for the possibility of being targeted again. By taking action now, we can better protect ourselves and recover more quickly if the worst happens again.
The average number of times that a victim is scammed is more than 3. This means some will be scammed just once, and others many times.
Why Scam Victims Are More Vulnerable
After going through a scam, your emotions may be raw—feelings of shame, anger, or betrayal can cloud your judgment. Scammers know this, and they often try to target the same individuals again. Whether through phishing attempts, impersonation scams, or even re-targeting through fraudulent recovery services, scammers see scam victims as easy prey.
It’s tough to think about going through it all again, but by preparing now, you’ll be able to minimize the damage if another scam comes your way.
12 Steps to Prepare for the Next Scam or Cybercrime
- Recognize the Signs of a Scam: One of the best ways to prepare is to familiarize yourself with common scam tactics. This includes romance scams, investment fraud, phishing, and even cyberstalking. By knowing the typical warning signs, you’ll be less likely to fall victim again. Look out for unsolicited messages, offers that seem too good to be true, or anyone who pressures you to act quickly.
- Secure Your Online Accounts Change Your Passwords Regularly: After a scam, it’s crucial to update passwords on all of your accounts. Use strong, unique passwords for each service and consider using a password manager like Bitwarden to store them securely. Bitwarden, which is trusted by organizations like SCARS (Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams), is an excellent tool to generate and store complex passwords.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Add an extra layer of security by enabling 2FA on all of your accounts. This way, even if a scammer gets your password, they won’t be able to access your accounts without the second factor of verification, typically a code sent to your phone or email.
- Monitor Your Financial Accounts: Keep a close eye on your bank accounts, credit cards, and any financial services you use. Set up alerts to notify you of any unusual activity. Regularly check your credit reports for unfamiliar accounts or transactions. Services like Have I Been Pwned can also alert you if your passwords have been exposed in a data breach.
- Create a Recovery Plan: You never want to assume you’ll be targeted again, but it’s important to have a plan in place just in case. Write down the steps you would take if your identity was stolen or if a scammer gained access to your accounts. This might include contacting your bank, credit agencies, local police, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
- Stay Informed: Scams evolve over time, so it’s important to stay updated on the latest trends in cybercrime. Subscribe to alerts from trusted organizations like the SCARS Institute, the FTC, or local law enforcement agencies. The more you know, the more prepared you’ll be.
- Safeguard Personal Information: Be extra cautious about sharing personal information online. Scammers often gather details from social media to impersonate you or target you for fraud. Set your accounts to private, and avoid posting sensitive information like your address, phone number, or financial details.
- Be Skeptical of “Recovery” Services: After falling for a scam, it’s common to receive offers from “recovery” services that promise to get your money back—for a fee. Unfortunately, many of these services are scams themselves. Always do your research and only work with verified professionals if you’re seeking help recovering losses.
- Keep a ‘Cybercrime Diary’ or logbook: and make note of important events, such as clicking on links in messages, texts, or websites. Anything that you do that could be a potential danger should be noted. Also, save scam emails in a special folder just in case – do not just automatically delete them, though you can and should block them. Remember, evidence matters!
- Have a Support Network in Place: It can be difficult to go through the aftermath of a scam alone. Make sure you have a support network of friends, family, or professionals who you can lean on for advice and emotional support. They can help you stay grounded and provide a different perspective if you’re faced with another potential scam.
- Educate Your Loved Ones: Scammers don’t just target you—they may also target your family and friends, especially if they’ve been made aware of your previous victimization. Make sure your loved ones know about your experience and are on the lookout for similar scams. Sharing knowledge could help them avoid being scammed.
- Take Action Immediately If You Suspect Another Scam: If you’re contacted by someone who seems suspicious or if you notice strange activity on your accounts, act fast. Don’t wait for the situation to escalate. Report suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities, lock down your accounts, and notify your bank or other services if necessary.
How to Recognize When You’re Being Targeted Again
It’s not always easy to realize when you’re being targeted by a scam, especially if you’re still recovering emotionally from a previous one. Be on the lookout for these signs:
Unsolicited Contact: Scammers often reach out through email, phone, or social media. If you didn’t initiate the contact, be cautious.
Pressure to Act Quickly: Scammers want you to make fast decisions without thinking things through. If someone is rushing you, that’s a red flag.
Requests for Money: Whether through wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, scammers always want to get paid quickly and in untraceable ways.
Emotional Manipulation: Scammers often use emotional appeals to cloud your judgment, especially if they’re impersonating someone you care about.
How to Overcome the Emotional Barriers to Recovery
Dealing with a scam can leave you feeling vulnerable, embarrassed, or even angry. It’s important to address these emotions and not let them stand in the way of your recovery.
Acknowledge the Trauma: Accept that being scammed is a traumatic experience. It’s normal to feel a range of emotions, from anger to shame, but understanding this is the first step toward healing.
Seek Support: Don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether it’s from a therapist, a support group, or a trusted friend. Processing your emotions is key to moving forward.
Practice Self-Compassion: Don’t blame yourself for falling for a scam. Scammers are professionals who prey on people’s trust. Give yourself the compassion you would offer someone else in the same situation.
Stay Vigilant but Open to Healing: While it’s important to stay cautious, try not to shut down completely. You can rebuild your trust in people, step by step, as you heal.
Conclusion
The best defense against scams is preparation. As we’ve learned, it’s not just about securing your passwords or protecting your financial accounts—it’s also about mental and emotional preparation. By recognizing the signs, staying informed, and building a strong support system, you can better protect yourself from future scams. If it happens again, you’ll be ready to take action and recover more quickly. Stay vigilant, stay informed, and know that help is always available—whether from professionals, loved ones, or organizations like the SCARS Institute.
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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
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
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!
SCARS Resources:
- Getting Started Right: ScamVictimsSupport.org
- Sextortion Scam Victims: Sextortion Victims Support – The Essentials (scamvictimssupport.org)
- For New Victims of Relationship Scams newvictim.AgainstScams.org
- Subscribe to SCARS Newsletter newsletter.againstscams.org
- Sign up for SCARS professional support & recovery groups, visit support.AgainstScams.org
- Join our Scam Survivors United Chat & Discussion Group facebook.com/groups/scam.survivors.united
- Find competent trauma counselors or therapists, visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
- Become a SCARS Member and get free counseling benefits, visit membership.AgainstScams.org
- Report each and every crime, learn how to at reporting.AgainstScams.org
- Learn more about Scams & Scammers at RomanceScamsNOW.com and ScamsNOW.com
- Scammer photos ScammerPhotos.com
- SCARS Videos youtube.AgainstScams.org
- Self-Help Books for Scam Victims are at shop.AgainstScams.org
- Donate to SCARS and help us help others at donate.AgainstScams.org
- Worldwide Crisis Hotlines: https://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/
Other Cyber Resources
- Block Scam Domains: Quad9.net
- Global Cyber Alliance ACT Cybersecurity Tool Website: Actionable Cybersecurity Tools (ACT) (globalcyberalliance.org) https://act.globalcyberalliance.org/index.php/Actionable_Cybersecurity_Tools_(ACT)_-_Simplified_Cybersecurity_Protection
- Wizer Cybersecurity Training – Free Security Awareness Training, Phishing Simulation and Gamification (wizer-training.com)
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To Learn More Also Look At Our Article Catalogs
Scam & Crime Types
More SCARS
- ScamsNOW Magazine – ScamsNOW.com
- ContraEstafas.org
- ScammerPhotos.com
- AnyScam.com – reporting
- AgainstScams.org – SCARS Corporate Website
- SCARS YouTube Video Channel
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