Last Updated on September 7, 2020 by SCARS Editorial Team

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.™ 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. Basics: Basic Fakery Deception & Lies

The Typical Relationship ScamRelationship Scam A Relationship Scam is a one-to-one criminal act that involves a trust relationship and uses deception & manipulation to get a victim to give to the criminal something of value, such as money! Click here to learn more: What Is A Relationship Scam? Has A Simple Set Of Basic Fakes Or Lies

As you already know, not everyone using online dating sites or social media is looking for love.

Scammers create fake online profiles using photos stolen from other people — even stolen pictures of real military personnel. This is the essential element of a romance scam.

At Their Core, Romance 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. Rely On ImpersonationImpersonation An impersonator is someone who imitates or copies the behavior or actions of another. There are many reasons for impersonating someone, such as: part of a criminal act such as identity theft, online impersonation scam, or other fraud. This is usually where the criminal is trying to assume the identity of another, in order to commit fraud, such as accessing confidential information or to gain property not belonging to them. Also known as social engineering and impostors., Fakery, And Lies.

The new stranger (the scammerScammer A Scammer or Fraudster is someone that engages in deception to obtain money or achieve another objective. They are criminals that attempt to deceive a victim into sending more or performing some other activity that benefits the scammer. or fraudsterFraudster A Scammer or Fraudster is someone that engages in deception to obtain money or achieve another objective. They are criminals that attempt to deceive a victim into sending more or performing some other activity that benefits the scammer.) profess their love quickly. And they tug at your heartstrings with made-up stories about how they need money — for emergencies, hospital bills, or travel.

Why All Of The Tricks?

They’re looking to steal your money and to do it in the most efficient manner possible – after all, this is a business for them – it isn’t personal.

As if all that isn’t bad enough, romance scammers are now involving their victims in online bank fraudFraud In law, fraud is intentional deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain (money or other assets), or to deprive a victim of a legal right. Fraud can violate civil law (e.g., a fraud victim may sue the fraud perpetrator to avoid the fraud or recover monetary compensation) or criminal law (e.g., a fraud perpetrator may be prosecuted and imprisoned by governmental authorities), or it may cause no loss of money, property, or legal right but still be an element of another civil or criminal wrong. The purpose of fraud may be monetary gain or other benefits, for example by obtaining a passport, travel document, or driver's license, or mortgage fraud, where the perpetrator may attempt to qualify for a mortgage by way of false statements. A fraud can also be a hoax, which is a distinct concept that involves deliberate deception without the intention of gain or of materially damaging or depriving a victim., credit card fraudCard Fraud Card Fraud is one of the most commonly referenced fraud definitions. It occurs when a fraudster uses a card (debit or credit) to make a purchase without the authorization of the cardholder. Card fraud can occur in-person or through digital channels., tax fraud, receiving stolen property and much more.

Here’s how it works – the basics:

• The scammers set up online profiles to meet potential victims.
• After they form a “relationship,” they come up with reasons to ask their new “love” interest to send money, or set up a new bank account, use an existing bank account, or use a credit card account – all work.
• The scammers’ transfer stolen money into the victim’s account and then tells their victims to wire the money out of the country to the scammer.
• Victims think they’re just helping out their soulmate, never realizing they’re aiding and abetting a crime, as well as acting criminally themselves (money launderingMoney laundering Money laundering is the illegal process of concealing the origins of money obtained illegally by passing it through a complex sequence of banking transfers or commercial transactions. Money laundering can be done through various mediums, leveraging a variety of payment vehicles, people and institutions., receiving stolen property, and possibly even tax fraud).

Some warning signs that an online friend is probably fake – they ask you to:

• Chat off of the dating site or social media immediately, using personal email, text (Google Hangout, WhatsApp, etc.), or phone
• Wire money using Western Union or Money Gram or via bank wire transfer
• Buy iTunes or other gift cards
• Set up a new bank account

Image Searches

Do you know you can do an image search of your new stranger’s photo in your favorite search engine? «Google», «Bing», «Yandex», «TinEye»

If you do an image search and the person’s photo appears under several different names, you’re dealing with a scammer. And if the person’s online profile disappears a few days after they meet you, that’s another tip-off. However, even if you cannot find their photo in an image search it does not mean they are safe – there are more than a billion fake identities online already and more being added daily.

Here’s The Simple Truth

Don’t send money to someone you met online — for any reason.

If your online sweetheart or ANYONE that you have never physically met in person asks for money, it’s a scam. PERIOD.

Unfortunately, social media and online dating scams are very common. There are millions of romance scam victims, and only a small fraction report it to law enforcement. If this happens to you, please report it – it is important.

If You Are A Victim

If you are a victim, please remember that you are easily scammed. That means be very careful about who you believe about anything online.

Also, remember that most anti-scam groups are run by victims trying to cope with their traumaTrauma Emotional and psychological trauma is the result of extraordinarily stressful events that shatter your sense of security, making you feel helpless in a dangerous world. Psychological trauma can leave you struggling with upsetting emotions, memories, and anxiety that won’t go away. It can also leave you feeling numb, disconnected, and unable to trust other people. Traumatic experiences often involve a threat to life or safety or other emotional shocks, but any situation that leaves you feeling overwhelmed and isolated can result in trauma, even if it doesn’t involve physical harm. It’s not the objective circumstances that determine whether an event is traumatic, but your subjective emotional experience of the event. The more frightened and helpless you feel, the more likely you are to be traumatized. Trauma requires treatment, either through counseling or therapy or through trauma-oriented support programs, such as those offered by SCARS. and mostly spread urban legends and incorrect information. Don’t cling to a fake or amateur group that prevents you from recovering by leading you in the wrong direction. Look for SCARS – which is the only real worldwide registered online crime victims’ assistance and support nonprofit organization.

If you have gone through a romance scam you are probably going to need real help to get through it. We offer real online crime victims assistance and 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. online. These are safe places with other victims who will not judge and understand what you have been through. « Click Here for one of our Victims’ Support Groups on Facebook »

 

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SCARS™ Team
A SCARS Division
Miami Florida U.S.A.

 

TAGS: SCARS, Important Article, Information About Scams, Anti-Scam, Scam Basics, Basic Fakery, Support GroupSupport Group 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., Scam Victims, Romance Scams