
SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years

SCARS™ Scam Basics: Who’s Job Is It?
Many Scam Victims Seem To Poorly Understand How The Real World Functions
To help enlighten, we offer the following overview and list of “jobs” related to scams and scammers and who does them.
SCAMMERS
Of course, these are the criminals. But few understand that this is a massive global trans-national cybercriminal empire with revenues of in the Hundreds of Billions of U.S. Dollars annually (current cybercrime costs are over one trillion dollars annually).
Their job is to use social engineering and other manipulative techniques to get VICTIMS to willingly send them money! And the succeed.
SCAMMERS usually work in teams of from a few professionals (a gang) all the way up to major cartels (corporations) with employees numbering in the thousands. There are few true single or individual SCAMMERS.
VICTIMS
If you are reading this then you are probably a VICTIM.
The VICTIM has several main jobs:
BEFORE THE SCAM IS DISCOVERED
- Provide the SCAMMERS with money, this is what fuels the entire global cybercriminal enterprise and helps more people become VICTIMS.
- Become a MULE and actually help and support the SCAMMERS actively, aiding in the scamming of others and becoming a criminal themselves.
AFTER THE SCAM IS DISCOVERED
- Reporting scams and SCAMMERS properly to law enforcement (local and national)
- Reporting to SCARS|CDN™ the global cybercriminal data network («HERE» or on «www.Anyscam.com») so that the information is distributed worldwide and supports law enforcement and other entities globally so that SCAMMERS can be arrested when possible.
- To recover from their scam and return to a fruitful life.
- Help spread the word to others who have not yet become VICTIMS.
MULES
Many VICTIMS are so deeply under the manipulation of the SCAMMER that they willingly perform services for the SCAMMER. They may or may not know that they are doing this, or that it is illegal, and may be subject to prosecution. In many cases even if they were told they were doing this as a part of a scam they would not believe it.
MULES collect money, allow their accounts to be used by the SCAMMERS to deposit stolen money, and receive parcels containing goods purchased with stolen credit cards. MULES help drive the SCAMMER economy since it is increasingly difficult for SCAMMERS to receive money directly.
ANTI-SCAM GROUPS
There is a multitude of ANTI-SCAM GROUPS on social media and websites. They fall into three main categories:
- ANTI-SCAM GROUPS created by SCAMMERS themselves as a tool to harvest or mining VICTIMS for more scamming.
- Fake (Pretender) and Amateur ANTI-SCAM GROUPS created by VICTIMS who mistakenly believe that after their scam they have become an instant expert or are going to save every other VICTIM. These groups generally do more harm than good.
- Professional Crime Victims’ Assistance Organizations such as SCARS (Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.) «www.AgainstScams.org»
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
The LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT or Police has the job of collecting information (reports) from VICTIMS and making a determination if there is anything actionable on the local level. They provide the VICTIM with a police report number which has value to the VICTIM in numerous ways, including accessing mental health counseling and other services (depending on the country). They also accumulate this information into reporting for their regional crime statistics so their GOVERNMENT knows the scope and size of these crimes.
If there is nothing actionable or the information is of poor quality, the VICTIM will not hear anything back from the police.
If there is something local that can be done, then they will take action to investigate. If it is outside of their jurisdiction then they are typically prohibited from taking further action.
NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
The law enforcement on the national level – such as the F.B.I. – are able to cross jurisdictional boundaries to investigate crimes anywhere within their nation. This includes investigating MULES outside of the VICTIM’S home town.
The information that they collect (such as from «www.IC3.gov») is typically not shared outside of their agency.
Once collected, VICTIMS rarely hear from the agency.
In most cases, they are only able to investigate and apprehend suspects within the national borders of their country. They cannot usually go to another country to arrest SCAMMERS due to international law and treaties between nations. When they have enough information they may collaborate with other GOVERNMENTS to locate, investigate, and arrest SCAMMERS.
GOVERNMENT
The job of the GOVERNMENT in all this is to provide the functions, funding, and legal support that LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT and NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT need to carry out their missions. It also helps to support NONPROFIT / NGO – NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS to assist VICTIMS.
It can also play a significant role in helping to educate the public to avoid SCAMMERS. But the GOVERNMENT as a whole is not law enforcement and does not directly play a role in investigating or arresting SCAMMERS.
POLITICIANS
The job of POLITICIANS is to create and approve the laws that restrict scams and empower LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT and NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT to carry out their missions. They are also responsible for deciding how much funding there is and where it is applied to help control the problem or to help the VICTIMS.
NEWS MEDIA
Ideally, the job of the NEWS MEDIA is to be the primary educator about scams and SCAMMERS.
Unfortunately, they fail at this most of the time. While they carry stories – usually about VICTIMS, in general, they lack the understanding needed to fully communicate the scope of the problem and fully explain it.
They can also cause more harm than good when they exploit VICTIMS for their own gain. It can sometimes be beneficial for VICTIMS to come out of the closet, but not always in front of the media.
NONPROFIT / NGO – NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
Worldwide there are only three known real NONPROFIT NGO organizations that specifically provide VICTIMS assistance and support for scam VICTIMS. SCARS (Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.) is one of them.
In the case of SCARS, our job is to:
- Provide primary scam avoidance education to potential VICTIMS.
- Provide information to help VICTIMS cope with and understand the “how and why” of their scam experience.
- Provide VICTIMS assistance and support to help the VICTIM move past the scam and recover.
- Work with GOVERNMENT and law enforcement to better understand scams and potential solutions, as well as address current law or new laws if needed.
- Collect and distribute scam and SCAMMER data (SCARS|CDN) for distribution to agencies around the world to facilitate law enforcement and governance strategies.
These Are The Jobs
Which one are you? Will you do your job?
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SCARS™ Team
A SCARS Division
Miami Florida U.S.A.
TAGS: SCARS, Important Article, Information About Scams, Anti-Scam, Government, Law Enforcement, Victims, Scammers, Mules, News Media, Nonprofits, NGO, Politicians, Scam Basics, Amateur Anti-Scam Groups,
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MORE INFORMATION
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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.
– – –
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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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
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
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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