SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
SCARS™ Insight: Knowledge Matters To Scam Victims
Why Is Knowledge And Education So Important For Romance Scam Victims?
One of the main reasons you were scammed was ignorance about the real risks online. Not only ignorance of the risks, but also a lack of general awareness about the trends that affect your life online.
A big part of the recovery process is regaining control of your own life and being able to evaluate the risks that surround you. But to be able to do that you need knowledge and awareness
Learning what really happened to you will allow you to see that there is no shame in what happened to you. You were dealing with a trillion-dollar industry that is expert in manipulating victims. Your adversary was simply better prepared, but you can learn to avoid future scams and help guide all of your friends and family about online safety.
Education And Recovery Go Hand In Hand!
Education is a powerful force for anyone going through recovery. Learning more about the world improves your quality of life, but it also helps keep you grounded in reality and the moment.
Learning about scams is essential to your recovery, but also learning new things or even going for a degree can help you get a better job, earn more income, and increase your sense of self-worth.
For any victim in recovery, these are all important factors.
Education can help you learn about your crime, about yourself and your choices, and can occupy your mind and take the place of thoughts about your scam. Embrace learning and education to strengthen your recovery and your resolve to resist ever being a victim again.
Your education begins as you work through your SCARS recovery process.
If you are getting professional help from a therapist, counselor, or other specialist or a team of experts at a facility, you are already learning about your own mind and the things that created the foundation for the scam and the dependency that followed. You are also learning about yourself and your motivations. Real experts can help you investigate your choices and examine your past to help you learn how the scam has been at work in your life. This personal education can be a powerful way to help you heal.
WARNING: There are thousands of fake and amateur instant experts out there that will lead you astray from real recovery. Make sure that you are only learning from a credible source, such as SCARS (which is a crime victims’ assistance provider) or a licensed mental healthcare professional.
As you go through recovery you should also learn about the psychology of scams » and the related addiction from an external perspective. Read up on how the psychology of scams work, how the scam has affected your brain and body, and how other recovering victims have coped and been successful in recovery. This knowledge is power and will only strengthen your ability to recover and stay safe online in the future.
How Can Education Help Me After Recovery?
Education can also help you stay safe and scam-free after you have completed your recovery. Recovery should be a time for intense self-learning and for devoting yourself to learning about how this happened and the role it has played in your life. Once you are firmly in recovery, education can help you stay that way. One of the most powerful tools to help you avoid becoming scammed again is finding something, or many things, to replace your habit – the habit of talking to and accepting total strangers online into your life. Some people turn to religion, others devote themselves to exercise, while some develop new hobbies or are focused on work. All are useful in helping to fill the void the scam relationship left
You can use any healthful activity to replace your fake relationship, but one of the best is education.
Pick up wherever you left off.
If this means going back to high school, enroll in an adult education program or work toward your high school equivalency diploma. If you never made it to college, search for programs that meet your needs. There many choices. Start out at a community college to take a couple of introductory courses online, or apply to a university and start working toward a degree. If you have a career in mind, look for programs and schools that will help you achieve your goals. Remember, online learning is much less expensive and far more flexible.
By focusing attention on education and learning, there’s less room for thoughts about what happened and surprisingly more room for thoughts about your future.
Education can’t solve all of your problems, but it can be a powerful way to help you improve yourself, enhance your life, and recover from the disaster of your romance scam.
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SCARS™ Team
A SCARS Division
Miami Florida U.S.A.
TAGS: SCARS, Important Article, Information About Scams, Anti-Scam, SCARS™ Insight, Knowledge Matters To Scam Victims, Education Is Vital In Recovery, Learn To Recover, Scam Victim Recovery
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MORE INFORMATION
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Tell us about your experiences with Romance Scammers in our
« Scams Discussion Forum on Facebook »
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FAQ: How Do You Properly Report Scammers?
It is essential that law enforcement knows about scams & scammers, even though there is nothing (in most cases) that they can do.
Always report scams involving money lost or where you received money to:
- Local Police – ask them to take an “informational” police report – say you need it for your insurance
- U.S. State Police (if you live in the U.S.) – they will take the matter more seriously and provide you with more help than local police
- Your National Police or FBI « www.IC3.gov »
- The SCARS|CDN™ Cybercriminal Data Network – Worldwide Reporting Network « HERE » or on « www.Anyscam.com »
This helps your government understand the problem, and allows law enforcement to add scammers on watch lists worldwide.
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Visit our NEW Main SCARS Facebook page for much more information about scams and online crime: « www.facebook.com/SCARS.News.And.Information »
To learn more about SCARS visit « www.AgainstScams.org »
Please be sure to report all scammers
« HERE » or on « www.Anyscam.com »
Legal Notices:
All original content is Copyright © 1991 – 2020 SCARS All Rights Reserved Worldwide & Webwide. Third-party copyrights acknowledge.
SCARS, RSN, Romance Scams Now, SCARS|WORLDWIDE, SCARS|GLOBAL, SCARS, Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams, Society of Citizens Against Romance Scams, SCARS|ANYSCAM, Project Anyscam, Anyscam, SCARS|GOFCH, GOFCH, SCARS|CHINA, SCARS|CDN, SCARS|UK, SCARS Cybercriminal Data Network, Cobalt Alert, Scam Victims Support Group, are all trademarks of Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Incorporated.
Contact the law firm for the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Incorporated by email at legal@AgainstScams.org
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Table of Contents
- Why Is Knowledge And Education So Important For Romance Scam Victims?
- Education And Recovery Go Hand In Hand!
- How Can Education Help Me After Recovery?
- The Latest SCARS|RSN Posts
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- An Essay on Justice and Money Recovery – 2026
- Tell us about your experiences with Romance Scammers in our
« Scams Discussion Forum on Facebook » - FAQ: How Do You Properly Report Scammers?
- Please be sure to report all scammers
« HERE » or on « www.Anyscam.com » - Legal Notices:
Rapid Report Scammers
In the U.S. & Canada
U.S. & Canada Suicide Lifeline 988
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ARTICLE META
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
SCARS Institute articles examine different aspects of the scam victim experience, as well as those who may have been secondary victims. This work focuses on understanding victimization through the science of victimology, including common psychological and behavioral responses. The purpose is to help victims and survivors understand why these crimes occurred, reduce shame and self-blame, strengthen recovery programs and victim opportunities, and lower the risk of future victimization.
At times, these discussions may sound uncomfortable, overwhelming, or may be mistaken for blame. They are not. Scam victims are never blamed. Our goal is to explain the mechanisms of deception and the human responses that scammers exploit, and the processes that occur after the scam ends, so victims can better understand what happened to them and why it felt convincing at the time, and what the path looks like going forward.
Articles that address the psychology, neurology, physiology, and other characteristics of scams and the victim experience recognize that all people share cognitive and emotional traits that can be manipulated under the right conditions. These characteristics are not flaws. They are normal human functions that criminals deliberately exploit. Victims typically have little awareness of these mechanisms while a scam is unfolding and a very limited ability to control them. Awareness often comes only after the harm has occurred.
By explaining these processes, these articles help victims make sense of their experiences, understand common post-scam reactions, and identify ways to protect themselves moving forward. This knowledge supports recovery by replacing confusion and self-blame with clarity, context, and self-compassion.
Additional educational material on these topics is available at ScamPsychology.org – ScamsNOW.com and other SCARS Institute websites.
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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