SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
Spotting Scams & Anti-Scam Tips – Article Catalog
The Clues & Tips To Help You Avoid Scams & Scammers
From the basics to detailed red flags!
Learn how to avoid scams now and in the future!
A SCARS Topic Collection
Updated: August 9, 2021
Scams Are Complex And Contain Hidden Dangers!
Staying Safe Online Requires That you Have More Than Attitude & Intelligence! It Requires Specialized Knowledge!
In order to avoid or discover scams, you need knowledge but there is an endless range of clues and tips that can help you. Below are our articles on this subject.
Remember, not all scams are exactly alike. There are endless variations, but these should help you discover if you are being scammed and how to never let it happen again or even in the first place.
We will update this catalog from time to time as new articles are added or recategorized.
Scam Basics
Understand Scams
- What Is A Scam?
- 9 Steps To Avoiding Online Fraud
- How Do You Stop Scams?
- Simple Steps for Internet Safety
- FTC’s How To Avoid Scams
- Basic Fakery Deception & Lies
- Love for Sale
- Dead Wife
- Fake Video Calls
- What’s Up With Gift Cards?
- Forgetful Scammers
- Scammer Grammar!
- Scam Basics: A Taxonomy
- A Quick Reminder To Report All Scams
- There Are Real Monsters Online
- Standard Nigerian Scams & Online Fraud
Scam Tips & Clues
The Red Flags
- How To Identify A Scam?
- Spotting Scammers
- 3 Simple Rules
- 15 BASIC Warning Signs Of Romance Scamming
- Online Love Asking For Money? It’s A Scam.
- Scammers Create Fake Emergencies To Get Your Money
- Fake Valentines Quick Check List
- Why Do They Call You Dear?
- Scammer Acid Test
- Scammer Clues
- Clues You Can Use!
- Overly Religious
- Uninvited Strangers
- How To Avoid Nigerian Letter Or “419” Email Scams
- Anti-Scam Tips – Graphics & Posters
- African & Greater Middle East Phone Country Codes
- Popular Nigerian Slang You Can Use To Detect A Scammer
- Road Trip Or Out Of The Country!
- Too Many Facebook Groups
- Dead Wife
- Too Many Friends
- Scammer Grammar!
- Always Ask You To Chat Somewhere Else
- Forgetful Scammers
- How To Trace Scam Email Senders/Headers
Fake Soldiers
Spotting Military Scams:
- Military Impersonation Scams
- Soldier Impersonation
- U.S. Army Scammers / Fake Soldier Romance Scams
- U.S. Army Warning: Fake Soldiers – SCARS™ Special Report
- United States Military Ranks & Insignia
- United States Military & Social Media
- Where are the U.S. Military Forces Now
- Impersonation Galleries
- Visit SCARS Scammer Photo Gallery Website at scammerphotos.com
Scammer Photos
Real Or Fake Photos:
- How to Do a Reverse Image Search From Your Phone
- Games With Photos
- Stolen Photos
- Scammer Fake Passport Recognition
- How To Spot Fake U.S. Passports
- Catch A Scammer By Their Photos
- Emailed & Downloaded Photos May Contain Malware
- Impersonation Galleries
- Also Visit SCARS Scammer Photo Gallery Website at scammerphotos.com
- Don’t Stalk The Face In The Photo!
- Proof of Life/Sign Photos
Watch Out
Be Careful:
- Confronting Scammers
- Clones – Copying Profiles & Identities
- When Real People Scam!
- Newspaper Ad Scams Still Work
- Real Scammers
- Stranger Contact Warning
- Scammer Hostility
- Philippines Gold Diggers – How To Tell
- 419 Money Scammers Turn To Google Forms
- Fake Pages – Trojan Pages
- God Help Millennials!
- Anti-Scam Security Test For Your Friends & Family
- Anti-Scam “Counseling”
- Scammers Now Creating Anti-Scam Websites?
- Scammers Like Gays & Lesbians
- The Insider Threat – The Networks of Scammers
- Recognize Counterfeit U.S. Money
- Avoiding The Latest Blackmail Scam
- New Trend In Romance Scams
Deeper Insights
Better Understanding:
- Money Laundering Presents Grave Dangers For Scam Victims & Mules
- Scammer Interrogation Techniques
- Scammer Crime Scene Investigation
- Hostility Is A Common Characteristic Of Scammers
- Compassionate Scammers
- Understanding The Narcissist Scammer
- The Heart Of Darkness – A Scam Geography Lesson
- What Is The Relationship Between Scammer And Victim?
- Why Reporting Matters?
- Naming & Shaming Scammers!
- Don’t Be Afraid Of Offending Scammers!
- Social Engineering Email Scams – Red Flags
Types Of Scams
Scams Come In Many Variants:
- Online Scams & Cybercrimes – Learn About Scams
- A to Z of Online Fraud
- 419 – Advance Fee Fraud/Scams
- After Romance Scam Scams
- Airline Ticket Fraud
- Bride Scams
- Business Email Compromise Fraud
- Charity Fraud
- Coronavirus Scams
- Coupon Scams – Yes, It Is A Thing!
- Courier Fraud / Police or Bank Impersonation Scams
- Cryptocurrency Scams
- Cyberstalking
- Disaster Scams
- Doxing & Scammer Revenge
- Emergency Scams
- Fake Checks Scams
- Financial Crime Online – A Refersher
- Gift Card Scams
- Government Imposters
- Grandparents Scams
- Hotel & Hospitality Scams
- Non-Delivery & Related Scams
- One Ring Call Phone Scam
- Online Money Scams
- Package Delivery Text Message Shipping Scam
- Ransomware
- Refugee Romance Scam
- Synthetic ID Fraud
- Targeting Teens And Young Adults
- Trial Subscription Scams
- Unemployment Fraud In the U.S.
- Unknown Text Messages
- Whaling Scam Attacks
How Scams Work
Learning How It Happens:
- Top Scamming Countries
- Impersonation Romance Scams
- Lost Pet Scam – Going For Your Heart
- Non-Delivery & Related Scams
- Financial Fraud: Explained
- Introduction To Sextortion Scams
- Romance Baiting Scams
- How Scammers Use Emergency Scams
- Doxing – A Kind of Terrorism or Cyberbullying?
- Dissecting A Phishing Scam
- Dissecting A Nigerian Advance Fee [419] Fraud / Scam
- Dissecting A Lotto Scam
- Avoiding Tech Support Scams
- How To Avoid Nigerian Letter Or “419” Email Scams
- Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams
- Police Impersonation Scam Phone Calls
- Text Message Scam Warning
- Where Does Your Money Go?
- What’s Up With Gift Cards?
- Nigerian ‘Yahoo Boys’ Are Posing as US Military Members on Facebook
How Scammers Work
Scammer Techniques:
- Standard Nigerian Scams & Online Fraud
- Scammer Methods – Part 1: The Introduction
- Scammer Methods – Part 2: The Questions
- Scammer Methods – Part 3: The Steps – Grooming & Manipulation
- Scammer Methods – Part 4: The Distance
- Scammer Methods – Part 5: The Love Story
- How Scammers Use Emergency Scams
- Scammers Create Fake Emergencies To Get Your Money
- Understanding Yahoo Boy Methods
- How Yahoo Boys Create A Fake Facebook Account Without Getting Blocked
- How Yahoo Boys Scam On Facebook Without Getting Banned
- Latest Yahoo Boy Scammer Techniques
- Advanced Scammer Techniques: Cold Reading
- Equivocation – The Magician’s Choice – The Arts Of Manipulation
- How To Become A Successful YAHOO BOY
- Ghanaian Sakawa Boys – The Untold Story
- Need A Phone Number?
- Facebook Profiles For Sale Cheap
More Dangers
Social Media & Dating Site
Urban Legends
Truth From False Information:
- Introduction & What Are They
- Urban Legends: The Lone Scammer
- Scammers Are Stupid
- Scammers Are All Alike
- It’s All About The Scammers
- Who Is Responsible?
- Scammer Threats & Blackmail
- Why Scammers Ask For Photos?
- Do Something Useful With Their Lives!
- Obsessive Scammer Exposing
- Anti-Scam Groups Are All Good
- Victims Are Stupid
- No One Is Doing Anything!
- Identifying Hoaxes and Urban Legends
-/ 30 /-
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Table of Contents
- The Clues & Tips To Help You Avoid Scams & Scammers
- Staying Safe Online Requires That you Have More Than Attitude & Intelligence! It Requires Specialized Knowledge!
- Scam Basics
- Scam Tips & Clues
- Fake Soldiers
- Scammer Photos
- Watch Out
- Deeper Insights
- Types Of Scams
- How Scams Work
- How Scammers Work
- More Dangers
- Social Media & Dating Site
- Urban Legends
- Recovery from Scams
Article Catalog - Psychology of Scams
Article Catalog
Rapid Report Scammers
In the U.S. & Canada
U.S. & Canada Suicide Lifeline 988
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- on Love Bombing And How Romance Scam Victims Are Forced To Feel: “I was love bombed to the point that I would do just about anything for the scammer(s). I was told…” Feb 11, 14:24
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- on Danielle Delaunay/Danielle Genevieve – Stolen Identity/Stolen Photos – Impersonation Victim UPDATED 2024: “Yes, I’m in that exact situation also. “Danielle” has seriously scammed me for 3 years now. “She” (he) doesn’t know…” Feb 4, 14:58
- on An Essay on Justice and Money Recovery – 2026: “you are so right I accidentally clicked on online justice I signed an agreement for 12k upfront but cd only…” Feb 3, 08:16
- on The SCARS Institute Top 50 Celebrity Impersonation Scams – 2025: “Quora has had visits from scammers pretending to be Keanu Reeves and Paul McCartney in 2025 and 2026.” Jan 27, 17:45
- on Scam Victims Should Limit Their Exposure To Scam News & Scammer Photos: “I used to look at scammers photos all the time; however, I don’t feel the need to do it anymore.…” Jan 26, 23:19
- on After A Scam, No One Can Tell You How You Will React: “This article was very informative, my scams happened 5 years ago; however, l do remember several of those emotions and/or…” Jan 23, 17:17
- on Situational Awareness and How Trauma Makes Scam Victims Less Safe – 2024: “I need to be more observant and I am practicing situational awareness. I’m saving this article to remind me of…” Jan 21, 22:55
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.
so im wanting to know if this is a scam or not i have a guy that im have been talking to that says he needs a package delived to me from a diplomat named kelvin. his email is unitedstatesdiplomatkelvin@gmail.com they want me to pay 6000 dollars to have it delivered it is to have his stuff that he got from syria in it cause he cant take it out of the county himself but they can his name is Richard Miller
Yes it is a scam. Please stop talking to and accepting stranger friend or message requests.