SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
RSN™ Guide: You Are An Adult – So At Least Take Steps To Protect Yourself
Alright, You Are In A Relationship With A Man Or Women That You Are Sure Is Real!
You are absolutely sure they are real and that it is all a fairy tale – you will live magically happy ever after!
They have Unicorn Dust Coming Out Of Their Eyes!
Nothing we can say is going to dissuade you from your online relationship. So at least be smart about what you are doing. That makes sense right?
Playing It Safe In An Online Relationship
If you are going to connect with someone overseas and you are going to send money, follow these steps to protect yourself.
- Always buy plane tickets yourself in the person’s name – that way they cannot scam you. They also can’t get a refund. Always tell them you are doing this. A real person will be very happy you are doing this. A scammer will try to talk you out of buying it, they will want you to send the money. There will always be some fantastical reason why you can’t buy the ticket.
- If they need money for an emergency, such as a hospital. Contact your embassy in the country to confirm the Hospital’s contact information. This is what Consuls do, they help their citizens with problems in local countries. Call the hospital’s billing department and first confirm the incident, and then if you are going to pay for it – pay the hospital directly.
- Always suggest that you will send the money TO your country’s embassy in that country, and they can pick it up there. Of course, a scammer will try to talk you out of it, because they know they can’t touch it. If they are ok with that method, you can probably be ok sending it MoneyGram or Western Union. Of course, this is no guarantee they are real, only that they are using a real name. This will not help you with real scammers, such as Filipinos who use their real identity, but it will bother the total fakes.
- The most important things for you is to decide up front, how much are you willing to lose if it is a scammer? Make a real decision, and stick to it. Let’s say you are willing to lose $100 – then when you send the first $100 and the scammer comes back to ask for more have the guts to say no! If you are using your judgment and believe the person, that is your decision. Set an amount in your head and stick to it.
- Always send less than they ask. If you are asked for $500, tell them you can only send $50 – watch their reaction and what they say to this. A real person will be either grateful or slightly panicked because they need a specific amount. If the person is just so-so, watch out, because it must not have been that important after all – such as when you are being scammed.
The truth is there are real people in the world that need help. Of course, they won’t contact total strangers and say they love them within a week, but who knows, golden eggs can fall from the sky!
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Tell us about your experiences with Romance Scammers in our Scams Discussion Forum on Facebook »
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 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™ News & Information 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 Romance Scams are all trademarks of Society of Citizens Against Romance Scams Inc.
#ReportingScammers #WhereToReportScams #Anyscam #SCARS #RSN #CatchScammers #ScammerWatchLists #ArrestScammers #REPORTSCAMMERS #ANYSCAM #AVOIDSCAMS #ROMANCESCAMS #ACTAGAINSTSCAMS #NIGERIANSCAMMERS #ROMANCESCAMSNOW #SCARS #GHANASCAMMERS #FAKEPROFILES #FACEBOOKSCAMMERS #BOYCOTTAFRICANCOFFEE
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Table of Contents
- Alright, You Are In A Relationship With A Man Or Women That You Are Sure Is Real!
- Playing It Safe In An Online Relationship
- WESTERN UNION REPAYMENT PROGRAM NEWS
- 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
In the U.S. & Canada
U.S. & Canada Suicide Lifeline 988
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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
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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