SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
SCARS™ Psychology of Scams: The Face In The Photo Is NOT Responsible
Many Times After A Scam, Victims Are Unable To Accept That The Person In The Photo Is Not The Real Scammer!
Today we received a complaint from a romance scam victim who blamed a person who had his photos stolen by scammers. Her argument was that HE HAD A RESPONSIBILITY to explain himself to those who lost money. She even believes he was the real scammer, or at least working with the scammers – giving out his photos for a piece of the winnings!
What nonsense is this?
The person in the photo is every bit as much of a victim as the person that sent money to a scammer. However, some victims let their irrational anger completely block their common sense.
This is such a case.
We are sharing this, not to blame this victim, but to illustrate the flawed decision making that happens to some victims after a scam. While this victim appears unable to address the real situation, we hope this will help others correct their thinking as it applies to those who had their identity stolen and were impersonated. They are victims too!
Here Is A Portion Of The Chat Transcript:
FROM THE VICTIM: Ive had so many people contact me through the identity of Dr steve Gregory jones for five years now and they won’t leave me alone every day of my life
FROM THE VICTIM: Ive even been to the police about this situation myself but they haven’t done anything about this situation im in now
- WE ADVISED HER TO CHANGE HER PRIVACY SETTINGS SO SHE WOULD NOT BE CONTACTED BY SCAMMERS
SHE REPLIED: Thank you but I really think the real person himself Dr Steve Gregory jones should face the people who have been hurt and lost their money over this situation
- BY “FACE” SHE MEANS BE LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE
- OUR REPLY: Why is that? How is he responsible for what scammers do with his photo? That is like saying a real manufacturer is responsible for what happens to someone who buys a “knock-off” product!
HER NEXT REPLY: He has the responsibility to face the people who has lost all there life saving money and one person who lost her husband over this he end up killing himself over this situation.
- IT WAS AT THIS POINT that we advised her that she was defaming a real person who was also a victim, and that we would be unable to help her further.
This person firmly believes that the person in the photo is the real scammer.
Over the last few days, we have published articles about victims living in denial. This is another form of denial – the delusion that the face in the photo is responsible – that it was that person that harmed them, when in fact it was not.
This is a dangerous form of obsessive delusion that can lead to more serious mental illness. We strongly recommend that people in this state seek competent psychological professionals to help them.
Sadly we cannot help such people since we do not provide mental health counseling services – and no one on Facebook does legally either.
However, it points out the fact that you must be very cautious about your mental state following a romance scam. The trauma can be severe and depending on your personality can cause deep psychological issues for you that only professional help can resolve.
Always take a look at your own assumptions and see if they make sense before you move from one set of bad decisions to another.
SCARS™ Team
A SCARS Division
Miami Florida U.S.A.
TAGS: – tags
END
– – –
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|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 »
All original content is Copyright © 1991 – 2020 SCARS All Rights Reserved Worldwide & Webwide – SCARS/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|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
-/ 30 /-
What do you think about this?
Please share your thoughts in a comment below!
Article Rating
Table of Contents
POPULAR ARTICLES
Rapid Report Scammers
In the U.S. & Canada
U.S. & Canada Suicide Lifeline 988
ARTICLE META
RATE THIS ARTICLE?
LEAVE A COMMENT?
Thank you for your comment. You may receive an email to follow up. We never share your data with marketers.
Recent Comments
On Other Articles
on Victim Psychology – Managing Your Emotional 5 Saboteurs: “It is so possible to stand in our own way during our recovery. That self-doubt about what happened, even feeling…” Jul 5, 12:51
on Romance Scams – Crime Typology Overview / Victim Impact Analysis – 2025: “Excellent compendium of knowledge on romance scams . Thank you Dr. Tim” Jul 5, 07:43
on Romance Scams – Crime Typology Overview / Victim Impact Analysis – 2025: “Dr. Tim, in the couple of hours you took to pull this information together into a victim impact analysis, is…” Jul 4, 18:56
on The Normalcy Bias: Understanding the Cognitive Bias that Can Put You in Danger – 2022 [UPDATED 2025]: “The article has been reviewed and updated. Thank you.” Jul 2, 07:31
on Stolen Face / Stolen Identity – Stephen Murphy: Do You Know Him?: “He contacted me on Facebook as General Henry Martinez from Dallas Texas but currently stationed in Syria. He was a…” Jul 1, 17:40
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.
Not all scams are the same. I was scammed by the person in the photo because i video chatted with this person. Her pictures all of them were never found anywhere on the internet when sending through 3 reverse image sites. It is a correct fact that victims do open their wallets to send money but its not always a 60 year old woman being scammed by a 30 year old soldier or person posing as one. Im in my 40s and was scammed by a woman approaching 30 we talked for nearly a year on the phone every single day. I thought this person loved me so i helped her get her career off the ground so we could pursue a life together. I actually gave half of the money to her out of love from my heart and to help her break free from depression this was an elaborate scheme setup to take months to achieve their goal. She had conference calls which i didnt quite understand at the time. I do agree and ask that other victims dont harrass the ppl in the photos but not all cases are the same and mine is exclusively different from any others ive read about because it happened from our own country, georgia to be exact. How i know this is because in the mess of it all, i was under the impression that money i gave was used to get her contractors license as a cerner analyst and that she would be having others working for her under this contract. Well these others had w2s that were going to be sent to her supposedly and since she was said to be moving here with me, she used my address to receive letters which i thought were legitimate. These letters were sent to an address in Georgia which was determimed to be a place of residence and not a medical facility as she had mentioned. The reason i had to send the letters was because her first contract that was up for her to bid on she lost and i was to send these letters to the company that had won the contract. After a second set of letters arrived having the same names as some of the first batch i realized that she was attempting to defraud our government by collecting unemployment funds using my address. Then i find out im on a govt watch list. I took out a loan to try and help her raise enough money to land her first contract and this was the money she agreed she would pay me back. So i paid for her license and for a plane ticket without wanting the money returned but took out a loan to help her kickstart her career with idea she would pay me the loan amount in full within 2 months. So i would appreciate it if others including victims who had their identity used in a scam, not assume all sxams are the same and not something others should take lightly. When a person has no clue what any victims entire story is and how they got to the point of sending money. They shouldnt assume that someone just opened their wallet for a person theyve only seen in a picture. Also, some ppl are even emotionally attached because they were sharing in relations over the phone which cannot be discussed on a comment on this website. But some victims were led to believe that there is a real connection when watching a movie together with their scammer while on the phone together also and talking together for hours some days. When a man believes that a woman is his woman he opens his wallet to take good care of her and i didnt fall in love with a person in a picture and ive talked to my scammer on video chat so validations were made to confirm that the scammer was in fact a real life person. The victims both scammed and identities stolen are victims and should be handled carefully without assumptions to each victims individual case. I pray for anyone that has had to face an incident and tell them to remain strong life will get better. Money comes and goes throughout our entire lives. Im broke and work just to try to survive now with limited amount of food and necessities. Ppl are resilient and dont be too ashamed to ask for help its out there and thats what its there for. Find your passions again and pursue them to help you once again find that your better than you may be feeling at this moment. Because you are so much better than how you feel after getting scammed.
Many of what you say is correct. Not all scams are the same, and victims are of any age. You are also correct, in that a comment is not the place to discuss the issues that a victim has, that is why we provide professional managed support groups for scam victims. If you would like to contact us, you can reach us at support@againstscams.org
Estou muito contente com as publicações deste site. Gostaria de sugerir ou ter informações sobre algum artigo que nos mostrasse páginas exclusivas de fotos se scammers para consulta.As páginas do Facebook me pareceram confusas ou eu não sube consultar. Obrigado
Wonen and men the people you think you know in the pictures are has much a victim as yourself why would you send money to someone that you’ve never met you chose to send that money. So you have to take responsibility for it. I have a friend who’s in the military I found 16 profiles on him he was devastated because he had no idea how many women had been scammed using his ID I’m in engaged to a military man I also saw his face under another. Profile I mean come on you meet someone on social media within an hour of meeting them they love you your there Queen there going to come home and marry you say everything you want to hear but you choose to send them the money you know in the back of your mind something is off there not texting like Americans there falling in love with in minutes of speaking to you your 50 or 60 and some hot solider who’s in his 30s is coming home to you to start a relationship Really I’m not saying that there aren’t some hot 50 or 60 who aren’t hot.But to blame the people who you think your talking to is just stupid there as much a victim as you .So to end this I’m going to say you choose to open your wallets and bank accounts to people you have never met or spoken to on the phone you have to ask yourself why would you do that then you want to blame the person in the picture who is just as much a victim as you are so think before you send money To somebody you have never met .Use common sense.
Thank you Dainty!
When they try to “friend me” on FaceBook I run a GOOGLE image search of their photo first, then I post a “LADIES BEWARE” message outing the scammer. I post the photo and say from whom they have stolen the photo. I also contact the real person whenever possible to let them know their photo is being used to scam women.
For me, they are easy to spot. I then report their profile to FB sometimes they block the account and other times they could care less!
If you are interested in reporting scammers on Facebook – this is the place to be: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RSN.Army/