SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
Article Abstract
The aftermath of falling victim to a scam leaves individuals in a state of shock and confusion, unsure of the next steps to take.
This guide, tailored for new scam victims, outlines three fundamental steps crucial for recovery. It emphasizes the need to refrain from self-blame and swiftly act within a limited time frame, especially concerning reporting to law enforcement or tracking lost cryptocurrency. Acceptance of being scammed is essential for moving forward, accompanied by seeking support and resources. Focused on self-recovery, it advises against pursuing the real person in the fake photos used by scammers, instead prioritizing emotional health. The guide advocates seeking professional support and educational resources for a comprehensive understanding of scams to aid in recovery.
Are You A Scam Victim – Now What?
This Is A Very Confusing Time For Scam Victims But We Have The Answers!
Your scam has just ended and you will be in shock, confusion, fear, and anger. You will be unsure about what to do now.
We have helped millions of scam victims, and we know that it comes down to THREE (3) BASIC STEPS.
This is a guide to help new scam victims understand what to do first and how to proceed with recovery!
First Thing
You need to understand that this was not your fault, and you are not to blame.
Do not feel ashamed of what happened. The scammers are professionals – yes scammers, there was more than one – they work in teams. They are expert manipulators, and you were not prepared.
Time is important after you discover the scams – there is a limited window for the police to act to help in recovering your money, depending on how it was sent. Learn more here. Also, if it was a crypto-based scam, your local police can, in very many cases, trace the lost cryptocurrency and recover it. Act now!
This is going to be hard, and most victims give up or give in to anger. But if you are willing to do what needs to be done, you can recover from this. Remember that the trauma from a relationship scam is very real and it will not simply go away – you will not just get over it – you will need help. Make sure you get it!
When the time comes to talk with your family & friends, click here for how to do that correctly, so they will not blame you. Also, see our videos on our YouTube channel here.
You will also find our self-help books available at shop.AgainstScams.org
THE 3 STEPS™
STEP 1: Stop All Communications!
You must block all contact with your scammers and do not accept friend requests or message requests or contact from people you do not know personally. Mark any email from scammers or strangers as spam. Try not to look at anything from the scam, save it in a folder, and do not look at it again except to be able to report it to law enforcement.
If you lost money: the way to report this is first with your local police – they are your first responders, then always report all scams to the FTC – visit reporting.AgainstScams.org to learn more.
If you did not lose money just report the fake profiles to Facebook or Instagram – and optionally to the FTC as well.
STEP 2: Accept That You Were Scammed
This means that you have to accept that you are the victim of a crime. Scams are crimes even if you did not send money. It is all about the deception, it was all lies. Nothing that you were told is the truth, so none of the stories or promises matter anymore because they were all lies. This is hard to accept, but it is what you have to do to be able to move forward.
As part of this STEP, you will need to report it to the police (see above) – this is your confirmation to yourself that you accept that you were scammed, that it was all a lie. You start with your local police – this is not easy, you will feel embarrassed and shame, but you do not need to. The police are not always going to be sensitive to scam victims, and they may not be able to do anything to get your money back or stop that scammer, but reporting matters regardless. Tell them you just need to report it and get a report number – this is your proof to yourself that you accept that this happened, and you may need it if reporting it to your national police or the FBI later.
Once this is done, put it all away, and don’t look at it again if possible.
You should sign up for one of the SCARS Support & Recovery groups at support.AgainstScams.org
STEP 3: Focus Only On Yourself
Do not try to track down or contact the real person who is in the photos, because you do not have a relationship with them and they are a victim too. Your relationship was just with the scammers – notice we said scammers – because scammers work in teams, there are almost never single scammers anymore. Try to separate the past from your future – hard as that will be.
Now you need to focus on your own emotional health and stability. Scams can be very traumatizing and they can lead to serious mental illness unless you take care of yourself. The scam happened, but now it is time to turn your back on that and focus on yourself and how you are going to move forward and recover.
We recommend that you take two immediate actions to help yourself:
- Join one of our support groups or forums: go to support.AgainstScams.org and apply for our free support & recovery program for scam victims.
- If you feel you need someone locally to talk to we recommend that you seek a local trauma counselor. If you are looking for local trauma counselors please find one here at counseling.AgainstScams.org
Additionally, SCARS offers free counseling or therapy as a benefit with our SCARS Gold Membership. To learn more about this go to membership.AgainstScams.org
You do not need to tell your family or friends at this point unless you need to – that can wait until you are feeling stronger.
The process of recovery will take some time – it depends on how long you were in the scam and the depth of the trauma you are experiencing. Do not try to rush it and do not assume you will get over it instantly. Most scam victims will need months and sometimes longer to return to emotional stability. How seriously you take your recovery will determine how successful you will be – there are no shortcuts. It is hard and it takes work.
A Word About Fear
Many scam victims are in fear after the scam ends. You might be afraid of the scammer’s threats or something else. Scammers are business people and they only do what gets them money, they will not waste time on anything else. So you do not need to be afraid – remember that scammers ONLY tell lies. But if you really feel fearful tell your local police about this too.
If You Need To Talk To Someone Right Now
If you feel that you must talk to someone right now call this number (in the U.S. & Canada): 988 / 1-800-273-8255 – it is available 24 hours in English and Spanish. To find other crisis hotlines for your country search on Google for “Crisis Hotline.” Remember, there is no shame in asking for help.
Lock Yourself Down
After the scam, you will need to make sure that you lock down your social media profiles to ensure that scammers cannot see your life anymore! Go through your privacy setting and change anything public to private.
Also, if you have shared any financial or banking information with your scammers you will need to protect those accounts. Contact your bank and notify them you have been scammed and change your account numbers and access information – do this for anything that you think might be at risk.
To Learn More
At this point, you have to focus on learning to better understand what happened to you. You are a victim, but that does not mean you are an expert in scams. Learning is an essential part of controlling your fear, anger, and confusion. It is part of your recovery process.
We recommend that you begin learning here on our SCARS Official Educational Website: www.RomanceScamsNOW.com
You will find thousands of articles about scams and scammers to help you better understand how all of this works. Start with the Psychology of Scams section to understand how this works for you.
The 3 Steps™ is a part of the SCARS Steps™ Scam Victim Self-Help Recovery Program – Copyright © 2015-2023 SCARS
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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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.
I was scammed by crypto, and I reported it to the police but they closed my case. I know that crypto is fully traceable but I don’t know what to do to influence the police to recover my money.
My mother has just been scammed out of hundreds of thousands (South African Rand).
I have sent her the link to this page but I think she is so upset she is not going to try to do anything about this.
I wish I could help her!
Get here in to see a trauma counselor or therapist. The trauma of the experience needs to be addressed before any meaningful progress can be made.
Is it possible getting your money back? Even though i sended money by Zelle Bank of America by different gmails but I didn’t have enough information on that but I have evidence.
If by Zelle, the only way to get anything back is to complain with BofA. Did you file a report with your local police?
I got scammed by someone trying to be the guy in the photos and it has been over whole year and I sent him 20,000 and now I’m broke and don’t have anything left besides being homeless and the money was always being sent by Zelle it was not the same gmail it was by very different gmails they gave me that to send it and I found out cause my friend investigated him and I didn’t even really knew the real person at all. And I wished I found out earlier and getting all that money back. He said his name is Juan Carlos but it turns out his name is Pierre Bonilla. Please is there anyway I can gat the money back. And I still have the evidence a lot of evidence.
If by Zelle, the only way to get anything back is to complain with your bank. Did you file a report with your local police?
You can also complaint to the state banking commission and to the Federal Reserve.
Pierre Bonilla is a popular guy. My scammer used his pic too. I didn’t lose as much. My police departmnet won’t do a thing
I truly appreciate all of this very important information. I feel shame, stupidity and a lot of stress.
You are not stupid. You may be ignorant about scams and scammers, but being a victim has nothing to do with intelligence. There is no reason to feel shame, even though it is a normal trauma response. Do learn more about how trauma affects you and we always recommend that you join a qualified support group and find a local trauma counselor to help you.