SCARS™ Subject Focus: The Psychology Of Romance Scams
Romance Scams Are Infinitely Complex And Leave Victims With Significant Trauma
Attention is like a spotlight, which means when it’s pointing in one direction it pretty much ignores everything else. This is how a Romance Scam starts!
Except people don’t realize how little information coming in from the outside world we actually process. Naturally, you don’t notice what you don’t notice, plus the mind is designed to fill in the gaps for us. But fraudsters do know and almost every con uses some kind of distraction – a kind of social engineering to get you to do what the scammer wants you to do.
Scammers know all about social compliance and happily exploit our automatic deference to authority figures such as soldiers. People will hand over credit cards to people they think are waiters, car keys to people they think are car park attendants and give access to their house to people they think are from the water board. The best known online example is a ‘phishing attack’ where people give fraudsters their bank details in response to an email that purports to be from their bank.
These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to social engineering scams. To truly learn how victims are manipulated and all of the mechanisms involved, we invite you to read our SCARS Library (below) on the subject of the Psychology of Romance Scams!
SCARS™ Team
A SCARS Division
Miami Florida U.S.A.
Phatic Expressions – A Scammer Manipulation Technique – 2024
Phatic Expressions - A Scammer Manipulation Technique A Communication Technique Used by Scammers to More Easily Lure In and Groom Scam Victims Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight Article Abstract Phatic expressions is a communication style used primarily for social engagement rather than conveying [...]
Breadcrumbing – A Scammer Manipulation Technique – 2024
Breadcrumbing - A Scammer Manipulation Technique One of the Many Manipulative Techniques Relationship Scammers use to Create Control over Scam Victims Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens [...]
Online Grooming In All Of Its Forms – 2024
Online Grooming In All Of Its Forms It is Important for Everyone to Understand this Critical Phase in Almost All Scams Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens [...]
Confronting Scammers & The Consequences Of What Can Follow 2019 [UPDATED 2024]
Confronting Scammers & The Consequences Of What Can Follow It Is A Bad Idea To Confront Them When You Catch On To Them! What Happens When You Confront Your Scammer? Only Bad Things! Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., [...]
Scammers Start By Grooming Scam Victims – Spotting An Online Scam Groomer – Grooming As A Scam Technique – 2024
Scammers Start By Grooming Scam Victims Spotting An Online Scam Groomer Grooming as a Scam Technique - Understanding How Scammers Work & Spotting Them How Scammers Operate - A SCARS Insight Article Abstract Online scammers employ a range of manipulative techniques, including grooming, to exploit [...]
How To Spot A Gaslighter – Gaslighting As A Scam Technique – 2024
How To Spot A Gaslighter - Gaslighting As A Scam Technique How to Spot the Gaslighting Red Flags Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight Article Abstract Gaslighting, derived from the 1938 play "Gas Light" and its film adaptations, is a scammer/fraudster manipulative tactic synonymous [...]
Relative Deprivation – A Cognitive Bias That Makes Scam Victims Believe They Are Unfairly Disadvantaged – 2024
Relative Deprivation - A Cognitive Bias That Makes Scam Victims Believe They Are Unfairly Disadvantaged Cognitive Biases Play a Role in Your Vulnerability & Susceptibility to Scams and Create Difficulty Recovering from Them! The Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, [...]
Negative Contrast Effect – A Cognitive Bias That Makes Things Worse Than They Are – 2024
Negative Contrast Effect - A Cognitive Bias That Makes Things Worse Than They Are Cognitive Biases Play a Role in Your Vulnerability & Susceptibility to Scams and Create Difficulty Recovering from them! The Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., [...]
Social Comparison Bias – A Cognitive Bias That Causes Psychological Challenges – 2024
Social Comparison Bias - A Cognitive Bias That Causes Psychological Challenges Cognitive Biases Play a Role in Your Vulnerability & Susceptibility to Scams and create Difficulty Recovering from them! The Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth [...]
Availability Heuristic Bias – A Cognitive Bias Shaping Scam Victim Decision Making – 2024
Availability Heuristic Bias - A Cognitive Bias Shaping Scam Victim Decision-Making Cognitive Biases Play a Role In Your Vulnerability & Susceptibility To Scams The Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the [...]
Sunk Cost Bias or Chasing The Money – A Cognitive Bias Affecting Scam Victims – 2024
Sunk Cost Bias or Chasing The Money - A Cognitive Bias Affecting Scam Victims Cognitive Biases Play a Role In Your Vulnerability & Susceptibility To Scams The Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, [...]
Anchoring Bias – A Cognitive Bias Shaping Scam Victim Decision Making – 2024
Anchoring Bias - A Cognitive Bias Shaping Scam Victim Decision Making Cognitive Biases Play a Role In Your Vulnerability & Susceptibility To Scams The Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the [...]
SCARS In-The-Moment Questions Intervention Technique For Scam Victims – 2024
SCARS 'In-The-Moment'™ Questions or Prompting Intervention Technique for Scam Victims Helping Financial Institutions, Businesses, or Even Families Intervene with Scam Victims During the Scam Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Guide Authors: • Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director [...]
Cognitive Biases: Authority Bias – 2024
Cognitive Biases: Authority Bias Playing a Role In Your Vulnerability & Susceptibility To Scams The Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight Authors: • Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams [...]
Cognitive Biases: Dunning-Kruger Effect – 2024
Cognitive Biases: Dunning-Kruger Effect Playing a Role In Your Vulnerability & Susceptibility To Scams The Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. [...]
Cognitive Biases: Rational Actor Fallacy – 2024
Cognitive Biases: Rational Actor Fallacy Playing a Role In Your Vulnerability & Susceptibility To Scams The Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. [...]
How Can Scammers Be So Convincing And Deceptive – 2024
How Can Scammers Be So Convincing And Deceptive An Introduction to Scammer Deceptive Techniques Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight Article Abstract When it comes to scams and fraud, perpetrators rely on a combination of psychological tactics and cognitive biases to effectively deceive their [...]
The Meaning Behind Scammer Gifts Sent To Romance Scam Victims – 2024
The Meaning Behind Scammer Gifts Sent To Romance Scam Victims How Romance Scammers Use Gifts To Manipulate Their Victims How Scams Work - A SCARS Insight Authored By: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against [...]
Ambiguity Aversion Bias – A Cognitive Bias – 2024
Ambiguity Aversion Bias - A Cognitive Bias Playing a Role In Your Vulnerability & Susceptibility To Scams And Creating Challenges To Scam Victim Recovery The Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight Authors: • Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel [...]
Actor-Observer Bias – A Cognitive Bias – 2024
Actor-Observer Bias - A Cognitive Bias Playing a Role In Your Vulnerability & Susceptibility To Scams The Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight Authors: • Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against [...]
TAGS: Psychology of Scams, Romance Scams, Social Compliance, Amygdala Hijack, Gaslighting, Stranger Trust, Trauma Bonding, PTSD, Victim Syndrome, Complex, Syndromes, Victimization,
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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 – 2020 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 – 2020 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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