SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
Romance Scam As Internet Infidelity
If Your Are Married & Involved In A Romance Scam It Can Dramatically Affect Your Marriage
Romance Scam As Internet Infidelity
One Of The More Devastating Aspects Of Romance Scams Is How Often They Destroy Marriages
Infidelity Online
One of the things we have observed over the 30 years of our experience, it how often we hear about romance scams where the primary victim is married.
In other words, a man or a woman begins an online relationship and it develops into a full-scam romance, then they discover it was a scam and a fraud. Yet, in the process have destroyed the bonds with their real spouse.
Sadly, there is no reset button that can be pushed to return everything to where it was before.
How Does This Happen?
We have all been there. Wandering around online and we connect with a new person that seems interesting.
In the early days of the Web, it was all about making friends and connecting with new people around the world. After all, that was the promise of Facebook to bring the world together!
Seemed like a great idea, except that the big tech companies led us all to the slaughter by completely abdicating their responsibilities to keep their environments safe.
So most of us that had been online grew accustomed to being open to new people. Even those that came in later still had their openness to strangers » that proved a fatal weakness.
The result is most often, that a person begins what they think is an innocent conversation with the possibility of becoming friends with someone in a far-off land, and then being trapped into a level of manipulation that they had no defenses against.
Going From Contact To Manipulated Victim
We have written about the process of victim grooming and capture extensively.
The initial capture process consists of primarily two parts:
- Stranger Trust gives the manipulative scammer access – click here »
- Then when the time is right, the scammer performs an Amygdala Hijack – click here »
The result is that now the victim is primed and ready for the longer-term manipulation that bonds the victim to the scammer, destroying the marriage or real relationship in the process.
Power Manipulation
Gaslighting » is one of the manipulative techniques that scammers use extensively and very effectively. This is the same kind of manipulative technique that was used during the cold war (Manchurian Candidate comes to mind) and also used by cults (Jim Jones) – learn more here »
The end result of this is that the married victim is now so thoroughly programmed that they have effectively destroyed their marriage. Not out of malice or intent, but by the fact that they let a stranger in the door and lost control from there.
The levels of manipulation can be significant and extreme, and can profoundly change the person being manipulated. These changes can be that the person not only stops loving the person they married but openly hates and distrusts them when there was no cause to do so, other than what their manipulator told them was true.
The impact is not just on the victim, but also on their spouse (and children) who has no idea what is really going on – to them, it may appear as a normal case of infidelity. In fact, real people can use gaslighting on people also. Married partners can be induced to cheat through manipulation and control without realizing it, though that is probably far less often than they may claim when caught. However, in this case, it is very real.
Ending The Scam
Ending the scam solves everything right?
No, it does not.
This is because the victim has been thoroughly programmed by the manipulation. In the case of a normal romance scam that targets a single person, they can de-program themselves over time and return to a reasonable state of wellbeing. But in the case of a married victim that is not the case because the manipulation was targeting their original relationship with the goal of destroying it and making the victim dependent on the scammer. This results in the destruction of the love or affection that existed before.
Can It Be Recovered?
That is the major question in these cases. There are all the issues of normal infidelity on each of the partners, but there is also the problem of deprogramming the victim.
In our experience, we have seen most of these situations end in divorce or separation – mentally/emotionally, if not physically. However, with a sincere recognition by both parties that this manipulation did occur and with proper mental health counseling we have seen a return to some normalcy.
We recommend counseling locally in all of these cases. However, it may not be a marriage counselor that you need. We suggest looking for a counselor or therapist that has “Deprogramming” experience since you will be removing the manipulation as much as helping to rediscover the reasons for the marriage in the first place.
In Conclusion
Many things are going to be necessary for any successful outcome.
- Fully and properly ending the scam and manipulation – zero tolerance for future contact, and vastly reducing internet use
- Full acknowledgment that the scam occurred and that the person was manipulated – admitting the problem is the first step in correcting it
- Local therapy for both partners – separate and possibly together later – need to first discover what the damage is and if a fix is possible
- More importantly, the therapy can help each person discover if they want to fix it
- This was a crime and it is important to report it so that it can be put behind
- If the couple splits then the victim should become part of a support group for ongoing support if not going to therapy
- The spouse should also go through grief counseling because in many respects the end of the relationship is similar to a death
The process of recovery is not an overnight one. This is long for a normal victim, but to fully recover, deprogram, and explore the options in a marriage make it more difficult. In some cases, this can lead to suicide and even domestic violence, so it should never be taken for granted that things will just turn out alright.
Sadly, we had a woman last year in 2018 who was lured into an Internet Infidelity by a scammer. We provided support through our support groups but because she would not go to counseling and include her husband it spiraled out of control. He could not grasp what had and was happening – he only saw the betrayal which resulted in him killing her and a family member, then taking his own life.
We strongly recommend that local counseling and therapy be the major component of any post-scam recovery where the victim is married or in a permanent relationship.
More Information:
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By the SCARS™ Editorial Team
Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
A Worldwide Crime Victims Assistance & Crime Prevention Nonprofit Organization Headquartered In Miami Florida USA & Monterrey NL Mexico, with Partners In More Than 60 Countries
To Learn More, Volunteer, or Donate Visit: www.AgainstScams.org
Contact Us: Contact@AgainstScams.org
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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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