SCARSSCARS SCARS - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. A government registered crime victims' assistance & crime prevention nonprofit organization based in Miami, Florida, U.S.A. SCARS supports the victims of scams worldwide and through its partners in more than 60 countries around the world. Incorporated in 2015, its team has 30 years of continuous experience educating and supporting scam victims. Visit www.AgainstScams.org to learn more about SCARS.™ CURRENT ONLINE SCAMSScams A Scam is a confidence trick - a crime - is an attempt to defraud a person or group after first gaining their trust through deception. Scams or confidence tricks exploit victims using their credulity, naïveté, compassion, vanity, irresponsibility, or greed and exploiting that. Researchers have defined confidence tricks as "a distinctive species of fraudulent conduct ... intending to further voluntary exchanges that are not mutually beneficial", as they "benefit con operators ('con men' - criminals) at the expense of their victims (the 'marks')". A scam is a crime even if no money was lost. THREAT INDEX
Romance Scams
WARNING
ScamScam A Scam is a confidence trick - a crime - is an attempt to defraud a person or group after first gaining their trust through deception. Scams or confidence tricks exploit victims using their credulity, naïveté, compassion, vanity, irresponsibility, or greed and exploiting that. Researchers have defined confidence tricks as "a distinctive species of fraudulent conduct ... intending to further voluntary exchanges that are not mutually beneficial", as they "benefit con operators ('con men' - criminals) at the expense of their victims (the 'marks')". A scam is a crime even if no money was lost. danger at extreme levels – high probability of stranger contacts from all potential media – increased victimizationVictimization Victimization (or victimization) is the process of being victimized or becoming a victim. The field that studies the process, rates, incidence, effects, and prevalence of victimization is called victimology.
Blackmail Scams
MODERATE
Scam danger at moderate levels – significant probability of stranger contacts from all potential media – elevated victimization
419419 An advance fee scam or fraud (419 scam) is a form of fraud and is one of the most common types of online confidence tricks. The scam typically involves promising the victim a significant share of a large sum of money, in return for a small up-front payment, which the fraudster claims will be used to obtain the large sum. If a victim makes the payment, the fraudster either invents a series of further fees for the victim or simply disappears. The 419 comes from the Nigerian law against this type of scam. Advance Fee Scams
CAUTION
Scam danger at normal levels – probability of stranger contacts from all potential media – normal or lowering victimization
Tech Support ScamsTech Support Scams Phone scammers may masquerade as tech support employees for a major company in order to take your money or install a virus on your computer. They may call from what seem to be legitimate company numbers using caller ID spoofing.
CAUTION
Scam danger at normal levels – probability of stranger contacts from all potential media – normal or lowering victimization
Email Phishing Scams
WARNING
Scam danger at extreme levels – high probability of stranger contacts from all potential media – increased victimization
Phone / IRSIRS The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the revenue & tax service of the United States federal government responsible for collecting taxes and administering the Internal Revenue Code (the main body of federal statutory tax law.) It is part of the Department of the Treasury and led by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, who is appointed to a five-year term by the President of the United States. The duties of the IRS include providing tax assistance to taxpayers; pursuing and resolving instances of erroneous or fraudulent tax filings; and overseeing various benefits programs. Visit www.IRS.gov to learn more. / SSI Scams
WARNING
Scam danger at extreme levels – high probability of stranger contacts from all potential media – increased victimization
Sextortion Scams
MODERATE
Scam danger at moderate levels – significant probability of stranger contacts from all potential media – elevated victimization
Grandparent Scams
CAUTION
Scam danger at normal levels – probability of stranger contacts from all potential media – normal or lowering victimization
Lottery
Scams
CAUTION
Scam danger at normal levels – probability of stranger contacts from all potential media – normal or lowering victimization
Facebook Scams
WARNING
Scam danger at extreme levels – high probability of stranger contacts from all potential media – increased victimization
Hangouts Scams
WARNING
Scam danger at extreme levels – high probability of stranger contacts from all potential media – increased victimization
Dating Site Scams
WARNING
Scam danger at extreme levels – high probability of stranger contacts from all potential media – increased victimization
COPYRIGHT © 2018-2019 SOCIETY OF CITIZENS AGAINST ROMANCE SCAMS INC.
PREPARED BY THE STAFF OF SCARS AND PUBLISHED IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. SCARS CAN MAKE NO GUARANTEES ABOUT THE LEVEL OR QUANTITY OF SCAMMERS OPERATING AT ANY TIME. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS ASSUME THAT THE RISK LEVEL TO YOUR ONLINE ACTIVITY IS HIGH. NEVER ACCEPT CONTACT REQUESTS FROM STRANGERS ONLINE – YOU ACCEPT THE RISKS BY DOING SO. ALL ONLINE USERS ARE ADVISED TO TAKE ALL PRECAUTIONS POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY AGAINST SCAMS. SCARS, ITS AGENTS, SUBSIDIARIES, PARTNERS, OR AFFILIATES ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR USE OF THIS OF THIS. PROVIDED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.
Hello I recently got scammed last month and I need your help??
Laura, we would invite you to join one of our scamScam A Scam is a confidence trick - a crime - is an attempt to defraud a person or group after first gaining their trust through deception. Scams or confidence tricks exploit victims using their credulity, naïveté, compassion, vanity, irresponsibility, or greed and exploiting that. Researchers have defined confidence tricks as "a distinctive species of fraudulent conduct ... intending to further voluntary exchanges that are not mutually beneficial", as they "benefit con operators ('con men' - criminals) at the expense of their victims (the 'marks')". A scam is a crime even if no money was lost. victims support groupsSupport Groups In a support group, members provide each other with various types of help, usually nonprofessional and nonmaterial, for a particular shared, usually burdensome, characteristic, such as romance scams. Members with the same issues can come together for sharing coping strategies, to feel more empowered and for a sense of community. The help may take the form of providing and evaluating relevant information, relating personal experiences, listening to and accepting others' experiences, providing sympathetic understanding and establishing social networks. A support group may also work to inform the public or engage in advocacy. They can be supervised or not. SCARS support groups are moderated by the SCARS Team and or volunteers. so we can help: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RSN.Support.Group.27/