Scammers Buying Anti-Scam Groups to Have Access to Scam Victims

The Alarming Trend of Scammers Purchasing Anti-Scam Groups to Gain Access to Scam Victims and Re-Scam Them

A disturbing trend has emerged in the fight against online scams, as scammers posing as businessmen are reportedly purchasing anti-scam groups, websites, and social media pages to further their fraudulent agendas.

Over the last several years, several anti-scam groups have told the SCARS Institute that they have received significant offers to sell their social media pages and groups. Even the SCARS Institute has received offers with prices of over USD $50,000. This trend signals the seriousness of the threat.

The Offer and Its Implications

One such anti-scam organization disclosed that it was approached with a substantial financial offer to sell its digital assets. The $25,000 proposal came from individuals identified as Nigerian businessmen. Other anti-scam groups are believed to have already accepted similar offers, suggesting a broader strategy to infiltrate and control platforms meant to protect victims.

By rejecting the offer, these organizations prioritized their mission over financial gain, emphasizing that their purpose of supporting scam victims outweighs any monetary incentive. Such purchases would enable scammers to manipulate vulnerable communities under the guise of legitimate support.

This incident raises significant concerns about the integrity of anti-scam resources. If scammers posing as legitimate businesspeople are acquiring these amateur groups and possibly even nonprofits, they could use them to mislead and scam victims further. This warning highlights the need for vigilance, as the authenticity of many groups is now in question. Victims seeking help may unknowingly engage with groups that have been compromised, potentially exacerbating their emotional and financial distress.

Scam victims need to look carefully at the organizations they wish to join or participate with.

Observed Changes in Anti-Scam Groups

Over the past few months, noticeable shifts have occurred in several anti-scam groups, particularly those that previously struggled with funding, time, or momentum. According to our observations, some groups that had gone dormant suddenly resurfaced with new activity. However, their direction appeared odd, with editorial content that seemed out of character and claims that bordered on unlawful, such as claims to recover money. For instance, posts began promoting questionable money recovery services or directing users to external sites that lacked credibility, a stark departure from their original mission of supporting scam victims.

One notable example involves a well-known anti-scam website RomanceScams.org (NOT a SCARS website), which appears to function primarily as a promotional tool for dating sites and paid identity search services. This suggests a possible change in ownership or influence during the pandemic when these changes were first observed, as the site’s content no longer aligns with its original purpose of protecting users from romance scams. Instead, it seems to encourage engagement with dating platforms that could expose users to further fraudulent schemes. These changes indicate that groups or entities like this may have been acquired by entities with ulterior motives, using the guise of anti-scam advocacy to lure victims into new traps.

Additionally, this is also concerning because many of these groups are often run by one or two victims who, while well-intentioned, lack the professional training or resources to provide effective support. These individuals may be driven by a desire to regain control after their own scam experiences, but their groups can become breeding grounds for misinformation, uneducated advice, or even hate-driven rhetoric. When such groups run out of steam, they become prime targets for acquisition by scammers who see an opportunity to exploit their established audiences.

The Broader Context of Nigerian Scam Operations

Social media platforms have become a fertile ground for Nigerian scammers and those all around the world, with Meta reporting the removal of 63,000 Instagram accounts in Nigeria linked to financial sextortion scams in July 2024. These accounts, along with thousands of Facebook pages and groups, were found to provide tips for conducting scams, including scripts and photo collections for creating fake profiles. This crackdown highlights the scale of global scammers’ involvement in online fraud, with groups like the Yahoo Boys, a loosely organized network, driving much of the activity. The purchase of anti-scam groups is not a new tactic in their playbook but it does allow them much more flexibility in re-scamming scam victims, allowing them to infiltrate communities meant to protect victims and turn them into tools for further exploitation.

The motivations behind these purchases are multifaceted. By acquiring anti-scam platforms, scammers can gain direct access to vulnerable individuals who are already seeking help, making them prime targets for additional fraud. They can also use these platforms to promote fake services, such as fraudulent recovery agencies, or to collect personal data for future scams or identity theft. Moreover, controlling these groups allows scammers to undermine legitimate anti-scam efforts, sowing confusion and eroding trust in the broader fight against online fraud.

Implications for Scam Victims Seeking Support

The infiltration of anti-scam groups by scammer gangs poses a grave risk to victims who rely on these groups for support. The emotional toll of a scam can be profound, leaving individuals with feelings of shame, anxiety, and mistrust. Professional support & recovery programs, and counseling or therapy are crucial for healing, as this emphasizes, noting that a victim’s ability to emotionally recover depends greatly on the quality of help received. When groups meant to provide this support are co-opted, victims can encounter misleading advice, further scams, or even exploitation, which can deepen their trauma.

For example, the website mentioned above, which once offered genuine advice on recognizing scam red flags, now promotes dating sites or other services that are themselves concerning. Victims who follow this guidance could lose more money or share personal information, leading to identity theft or additional scams. The shift in editorial tone, such as the promotion of new claims, can also foster a culture of mistrust or vengeance rather than healing, as some groups pivot toward hate-driven narratives that hinder recovery.

The SCARS Institute’s status as a registered crime victims’ assistance nonprofit (registered in Florida USA) underscores the importance of professionalism in this space. Unlike many informal groups, many registered nonprofit organizations subject themselves to oversight and must adhere to legal standards for providing support. They also focus on certifications and professional development for their team members. This ensures that their resources, such as counseling or educational materials, are designed to genuinely aid recovery rather than exploit victims’ vulnerabilities.

The warning to be cautious of unregistered groups highlights the need for victims to verify the legitimacy of any entity they engage with, ensuring it can provide the professional help necessary for healing.

Protecting Yourself in an Uncertain Landscape

When looking for and using resources now requires heightened vigilance. The SCARS Institute urges individuals to be extremely cautious with all so-called anti-scam pages, groups on social media, and websites unless they can prove they are a lawfully registered nonprofit organization to provide crime victims assistance and support services, by visiting their government’s website, showing their registration, and key officers.

Victims should also be wary of groups that make substantial claims of success and also exhibit sudden changes in tone, direction, or content, as these may indicate a change in ownership or influence. For instance, if a group begins promoting external services or websites without clear vetting, or if its posts shift from educational to promotional, it may no longer be a trustworthy resource. Additionally, individuals should avoid sharing personal information with unverified groups, as this data could be harvested for further scams. Instead, seek out organizations with a proven track record of supporting victims, such as the award-winning SCARS Institute, which offers structured recovery programs designed to address the emotional and practical impacts of scams with verifiable credentials.

The Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. (SCARS Institute) is an incorporated crime victims’ assistance nonprofit organization based in Miami Florida U.S.A.  SCARS is incorporated in the U.S. State of Florida Registration #N20000011978 [SCARS DBA Registered #G20000137918] – Click Here To Confirm | Previously incorporated in Delaware #7221716

Conclusion

The rise of scammers posing as businesses purchasing anti-scam groups serves as a stark reminder of the evolving tactics used by scammers to exploit vulnerable populations. As these groups are co-opted, the line between legitimate support and fraudulent schemes blurs, making it harder for victims to find the help they need. By staying cautious, verifying the legitimacy of resources, and prioritizing professional support, individuals can protect themselves from this emerging threat and focus on their journey to recovery.