SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
SCARS™ Psychology Of Scams: Chasing Your Money – A Psychological Trap
Don’t Get Caught Chasing The Money – That Path Can Lead To Addiction
A specific form of self-entrapment that some romance scam victims struggle with is the urge to chase their losses. This is a syndrome very common to gamblers too!
Chasing losses simply mean trying to win back the money you’ve already lost by gambling more. In the case of romance scam victims, it means not giving up on the fake relationship and even sending more money because of the fear of total loss – loss of the relationship and loss of the money already sent. This is especially prevalent after large amounts of money have been sent.
The Deeper The Hole The More You Want To Dig!
Unfortunately, chasing usually results in only one thing: more losses – which can then lead to more chasing – creating a vicious cycle that can be difficult to break.
Research to date shows that pathologically gamblers and drug addicts, and we believe romance scam victims also share many of the same genetic predispositions for impulsivity and reward seeking.
Just as substance addicts require increasingly strong hits to get high, compulsive romance scam victims pursue ever riskier ventures. Likewise, both drug addicts and problem victim endure symptoms of withdrawal when separated from the chemical or thrill they desire – namely the fake romantic relationship. And a few studies suggest that some people are especially vulnerable to both drug addiction and compulsive scamming because their reward circuitry is inherently underactive—which may partially explain why they succumb to scam in the first place.
Even more compelling, neuroscientists the romance scams and gambling alter many of the same brain circuits in similar ways. These insights come from studies of blood flow and electrical activity in people’s brains as they complete various tasks on computers that either mimic casino games or test their impulse control – unfortunately, no studies are yet available that tested romance scam victims in similar ways – but it is believed the scam and gambling produce the same results in the brain.
Romance Scams May Be As Powerfully Addictogenic As Gambling!
When we look at the behavior of romance scam victims we see strong parallels with addicted gamblers, and applying gambling addition to romance scam victims provides a template to better understand the victims’ behaviors during the scam. Ironically, the addiction (mostly) ends with the discovery of the scam. However, just like with addicted gamblers, scam many victims return to searching for their next “high” by going right back out and exposing themselves to the next scammer.
To learn about this is first hand – listen to a victim describe this in her own words »
We welcome your comments and insights into this subject and hope that you will share your own experiences to help others!
SCARS™ Team
A SCARS Division
Miami Florida U.S.A.
Please Note: the purpose of our articles on the Psychology of Scam is not to present scientific papers but to help scam victims both understand their experiences and to provide a framework to discuss these issues with their counselors or therapists. This information is presented for education and entertainment purposes only. All psychological diagnosis should always be performed by a licensed mental health professional.
TAGS: Psycholog of Scams, Addictogenic, Gambling, Addiction, Addicted, Romance Scam, Scam Victim, Chasing Money, Scam Losses, Victim Behavior,
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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
- 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
All original content is Copyright © 1991 – 2018 SCARS All Rights Reserved Worldwide & Webwide – RSN/Romance Scams Now & SCARS/Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams are all trademarks of Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Incorporated (formerly the Society of Citizens Against Romance Scams)
Legal Notices:
All original content is Copyright © 1991 – 2018 SCARS All Rights Reserved Worldwide & Webwide. Third-party copyrights acknowledge.
SCARS, RSN, Romance Scams Now, 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 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
- Don’t Get Caught Chasing The Money – That Path Can Lead To Addiction
- The Deeper The Hole The More You Want To Dig!
- Romance Scams May Be As Powerfully Addictogenic As Gambling!
- Tell us about your experiences with Romance Scammers in our Scams Discussion Forum on Facebook »
- Please be sure to report all scammers HERE or on www.Anyscam.com
Rapid Report Scammers
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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
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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