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

Thank You For Making Us The Leader!
Romance Scams Now™ Has Become The World’s Leading Anti-Scammer Website
With 10,000 visitors daily and nearly 4,000,000 visitors a year!
Our mission is to disrupt scamming around the world, and deny scammers the money they have stolen.
So Thank YOU to all of our visitors here and at our unique social media pages and accounts!
We promise to move heaven and earth to chase scammers wherever they hide!
But we need your help. We need you to report the scammers you encounter, and we’ll take it from there!
[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]-/ 30 /-
What do you think about this?
Please share your thoughts in a comment below!
Article Rating
Table of Contents
POPULAR ARTICLES
RATE THIS ARTICLE?
LEAVE A COMMENT?
Recent Comments
On Other Articles
on Scam Victim’s Responsibilities: “This article with the list of steps toward recovery and the video are thoughtful, beautiful and thought provoking. With the…” May 12, 21:12
on Scam Victim Apathy – Scams Are Somebody Else’s Problem: “Thank you for this article. I had no idea of the Tall Poppy Syndrome. However I have experienced as a…” May 12, 20:31
on Disengaging From A Fake Scam Relationship: “This article felt like a trip back in time and a reminder of how far I’ve come. At first, the…” May 12, 18:33
on Report Scammers: “My gosh! I should have done a reverse photo lookup before deepening the conversation with a scammer. A man claiming…” May 11, 15:09
on Forgiveness and Scams – Why It Matters So Much!: “Thank you for this article. I’m glad that it comes much further into the education. I’m glad we look at…” May 10, 14:31
on Scam Victim’s Learning Process [INFOGRAPHIC]: “The road toward education and recovery of a scam is, yes, long, tiring, overwhelming, scary, inciteful and can even present…” May 10, 11:27
on Scam Victim Recovery Fatigue: “I’m still an arriver. I’ve hit the 5 month mark and heading toward 6 months since my crime. In looking…” May 10, 11:14
on Victim Lists (Sucker Lists) – Scammers Collect Scam Victims to Re-Use and Sell – 2025: “I remember that after the scam I was so afraid of being scammed again. I felt very vulnerable. Then, when…” May 9, 20:51
on Scam Victim Isolation: “I experienced isolation in both ways described in this article: first as a request and manipulation tactic by the scammers…” May 9, 14:11
on SCAM WARNING: ELLEN DEGENERES PRIZE SCAM – 2025: “The wide range of tactics used by scammers to snag the unwary, someone who has had a bad day, the…” May 8, 05:57
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.
Thank you for your comment. You may receive an email to follow up. We never share your data with marketers.