Last Updated on by SCARS Editorial Team
Scammers Evolve Their Craft Constantly, Looking For New Ways To Capture Victims!
A New Technique Has Emerged That Is Proving All Too Easy! Fake Media/Press Interviews!
In recent months we have seen several new approaches used by experienced scammers:
- Victims Support Infiltration ScamsScams A Scam is a confidence trick - a crime - is an attempt to defraud a person or group after first gaining their trust through deception. Scams or confidence tricks exploit victims using their credulity, naïveté, compassion, vanity, irresponsibility, or greed and exploiting that. Researchers have defined confidence tricks as "a distinctive species of fraudulent conduct ... intending to further voluntary exchanges that are not mutually beneficial", as they "benefit con operators ('con men' - criminals) at the expense of their victims (the 'marks')". A scam is a crime even if no money was lost.
- Fake Anti-Scam Experts
- And Now, Fake Press or Media Interviews of Victims
Fake Press/Media Interviews
Scam victims are not always cautious about commenting on public social media pages or in joining amateur anti-scam groups that are poorly managed. Many of these do not actively monitor activities looking for scammerScammer A Scammer or Fraudster is someone that engages in deception to obtain money or achieve another objective. They are criminals that attempt to deceive a victim into sending more or performing some other activity that benefits the scammer. activity, and because of this expose victims to scammers looking for second chances.
SCARS monitors all of our social media and websites actively looking for any form of comment deception. However, nothing that is exposed to the public can ever be perfectly secure from observation by criminals. It is so important that every current or past crime victim be cautious about what you expose of yourself when commenting or posting! You never know who is watching.
No, you are not paranoid if they are really out there waiting to get you!
How This Scam Works
- You are contacted through a comment or post on social media, or through a text or online message, or potentially even by email.
- The scammers say they are with the new media, and may even mention a real media or press outlet – the New York Times, Guardian, and others are popular choices – it tends not to be a small media company – but you can never know.
- They mention that they are doing an article/story about scams and saw your comment/post and want to interview you.
- They will set up a zoom call, VoIPVOIP Stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol is a way to make and receive phone calls using a broadband internet connection instead of a traditional phone line., or phone call, and will want to explore what happened to you.
- In the process, they need your background – legal name, address, contact information, names of family members, where you bank, etc. – because it all relates to your scam.
- A variation of this is they may claim to be a student doing research for a paper or thesis for their university.
- They will also want to get from you all of the details of your scam, records, receipts, and other paperwork.
In the end, it is the story of your scam and extracting everything they need to either steal your identity, do account takeovers, or perform some other variation of an impersonationImpersonation An impersonator is someone who imitates or copies the behavior or actions of another. There are many reasons for impersonating someone, such as: part of a criminal act such as identity theft, online impersonation scam, or other fraud. This is usually where the criminal is trying to assume the identity of another, in order to commit fraud, such as accessing confidential information or to gain property not belonging to them. Also known as social engineering and impostors.. This gives them enough information to impersonate you to other people you know and perform scams on them too.
But it also opens the door for new manipulation.
Unfortunately, most victims want to be heard so much, that any opportunity to tell their story is welcome. Few will properly vet/verify the reporter or even know how to since the scammers will provide fake references, phone numbers, or email addresses too. All will confirm that the reporter is real.
Also, remember that scammers are experts at impersonation. They may very well have used the name of a real reporter so that when you call the real company, they will confirm the name and affiliation.
What Can You Do – Who Can You Trust?
This is the hard part. You really should not trust anyone!
However, we can help – we are SCARS.
If you are contacted by any member of the press or media about a story or interview, contact us and let us verify they are real for you. Send us the information by email to Contact@AgainstScams.org (you can, of course, verify that we are real from our website www.AgainstScams.org).
Forward any emails or copies of messages. Their profiles or contact information.
We will follow up with you directly to determine if it is safe for you to do this – both psychologically and otherwise. It is not always advisable for a victim to expose themselves to the press – they want the story, but the press really is not concerned with your traumaTrauma Emotional and psychological trauma is the result of extraordinarily stressful events that shatter your sense of security, making you feel helpless in a dangerous world. Psychological trauma can leave you struggling with upsetting emotions, memories, and anxiety that won’t go away. It can also leave you feeling numb, disconnected, and unable to trust other people. Traumatic experiences often involve a threat to life or safety or other emotional shocks, but any situation that leaves you feeling overwhelmed and isolated can result in trauma, even if it doesn’t involve physical harm. It’s not the objective circumstances that determine whether an event is traumatic, but your subjective emotional experience of the event. The more frightened and helpless you feel, the more likely you are to be traumatized. Trauma requires treatment, either through counseling or therapy or through trauma-oriented support programs, such as those offered by SCARS., just getting the story. The story may not paint you in a very favorable light either.
It is tempting to talk to the press, you want someone to do something, and you don’t know how to get the attention to the problem you want. But the press can often be the worst people to talk to about it. Often traumatized scam victims are only traumatized more in the end.
You do not need to tell us much, just how we can contact you, and we will do the investigation into the “reporter,” “student,” or whoever it is that wants your story. At NO COST to you.
A Warning About The Press
Even if the reporter is real, from your local TV station, newspaper, or national media, talking to them is rarely advisable.
Why? Because their goals are NOT your goals!!
Even working with the best, such as the hundred or so hours we spent supporting the National Geographic production team for the series “Trafficked” does not work out as represented or promised. SCARS spent countless hours coordinating the transfer of knowledge to their team, arranging for interviews with our team and stable victims that wanted to tell NG about the impact that scams had on them. In the end, NG fluffed the interviews, included almost nothing about the real pain victims face, and then made the scammers seem friendly and justified because of their poverty. We could not have been more disappointed and betrayed. They did not even tell scam victims that there is help available to them, which was a key condition of our support and participation.
However, our directors have appeared on many other shows where they were well treated and the subjects were seriously explored compassionately and professionally. It just depends on the people doing the stories or interviews.
Psychological Trauma
Many reporters may actually be well-intentioned, but they do not know anything about your trauma or what will increase it. Many victims feel desperate in the early days after a scam, but this is absolutely the wrong time to give an interview. The interview will accomplish nothing meaningful and can push up your trauma as a result. We can help a victim with an opportunity to make the decision if they are ready for this level of exposure and what the consequences may be for them.
If You Are Contacted By The Press
Ask them to contact SCARS directly at Press@AgainstScams.org and let our press office review the request and its justification.
If you have already spoken with a member of the press/media but have not yet done an interview, contact us at once by email at Contact@AgainstScams.org and let us verify what is happening for you. We will also explore if this is the right thing for you to do.
If you have been contacted by someone that you suspect was a fake report them to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (from anywhere in the world) at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/?orgcode=SCARS and on www.Anyscam.com – this will help get the word out!
Essential Tools For Every Scam Victim From SCARS
Each is based on our SCARS Team’s 30 plus years of experience.
SCARS GREEN BOOK
Self-Help Self-Paced Recovery Program Guide
LEARN HOW TO RECOVER ON YOUR OWN
This program is designed to help scam victims struggling to recover on their own and for those who want to understand the overall process. You can be using other resources, such as trauma counselingCounseling Counseling is the professional guidance of the individual by utilizing psychological methods especially in collecting case history data, using various techniques of the personal interview, and testing interests and aptitudes. A mental health counselor (MHC), or counselor, is a person who works with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health. Such persons may help individuals deal with issues associated with addiction and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; and aging. They may also work with "Social Workers", "Psychiatrists", and "Psychologists". SCARS does not provide mental health counseling. or therapy, qualified support groupsSupport Groups In a support group, members provide each other with various types of help, usually nonprofessional and nonmaterial, for a particular shared, usually burdensome, characteristic, such as romance scams. Members with the same issues can come together for sharing coping strategies, to feel more empowered and for a sense of community. The help may take the form of providing and evaluating relevant information, relating personal experiences, listening to and accepting others' experiences, providing sympathetic understanding and establishing social networks. A support group may also work to inform the public or engage in advocacy. They can be supervised or not. SCARS support groups are moderated by the SCARS Team and or volunteers., or completely independent – on your own!
The SCARS Steps program is a complete program and is provided for the purpose of helping scam victims to overcome this experience. Throughout this SCARS Steps Program, we speak about issues and challenges that a victim may have and help guide them through their recovery. But each person is different and it is important to understand your own reasons for being vulnerable to being scammed.
After the trauma of being scammed, you need to take steps to recover and move on. This may be an alternative to counseling in the short term, but we still encourage you to seek out professional help & support. Throughout this SCARS Steps Program, we speak about issues, challenges, defects, or problems that a victim may have in a generalized way.
The SCARS GREEN BOOK will help you recover from your scam offline and it will always be there when you need it!
SCARS BLUE BOOK
A Unique SurvivorSurvivor A Scam Survivor is a victim who has been able to fully accept the reality of their situation. That they were the victim of a crime and are not to blame. They are working on their emotional recovery and reduction of any trauma either on their own, through a qualified support organization, or through counseling or therapy. And has done their duty and reported the crime to their local police, national police, and on Anyscam.com’s Recovery Journal
THE PERFECT DAILY JOURNAL FOR SCAM VICTIMS IN RECOVERY
Give yourself the perfect tool to measure and track your recovery progress while getting the therapeutic benefit of journaling!
This official SCARS Self-Help Recovery Program Journal allows you to record your journey day by day, to be able to look back and see your progress, and measure your achievements. While this is a difficult time in your life, it will get better in time and journaling is an important way to help you through many of those moments, but also to show yourself how strong you are!
The Official SCARS BLUE BOOK is your way of recording this struggle and help yourself through it.
A special discount is available when buying 3 at a time.
SCARS RED BOOK
Your Personal Scam Evidence & Crime Record Organizer
ORGANIZE YOUR INFORMATION TO MAKE THE REPORTING PROCESS SIMPLE!
Helps you get and stay organized. This publication is to help Scam Victims organize their crime information. Complete this information before reporting to the police then bring this book with you
Before or after reporting to the police the RED BOOK gives you a dedicated tool to record all the essential facts of this crime. The Victim, the Scammers, the Money, and your Police interactions. Everything that really matters can be easily recorded for your immediate use and for the future!
As we have seen, money recovery/repayment programs can become available years after the scam ends and you need to keep all the details of this crime in case it is needed. We have also seen scammers being extradited to the U.S. and other countries, this will help in the event you testify or give statements, Additionally, this helps you have your information ready to qualify for victims’ benefits, compensation, or aid.
The Official SCARS RED BOOK is your way of recording all the important facts of this crime so that you do not lose essential information, Complete the RED BOOK then put it away with the confidence that you will have it if or when it is needed.
SCARS LIME BOOK
Wisdom & Motivation for Scam Victims
A SURVIVOR’S GUIDE FOR MOTIVATION & WISDOM ABOUT SCAMS & RECOVERY
After the scam, life is filled with challenges and uncertainty. So many things are going wrong and how do you recover from the experience. There is a way. In the SCARS GREEN BOOK we present the complete SCARS Steps Recovery Program, but there is more to it.
You need to keep yourself motivated and understand that you are not the first person to go through this. The SCARS LIME BOOK helps you stay positive and motivated, and gain the wisdom that comes from helping millions of scam victims that SCARS has done.
This small book is packed with motivational insights and survivor wisdom to help you get up every day, make it through the through times, and sleep assured that time heals all emotional wounds.
The Official SCARS LINE BOOK is your way of reminding yourself every day that you are strong and can make it through this!
SCARS SLATE BOOK – A Guide For Families & Friends Of Scam Victims
HOW TO HELP ROMANCE SCAM VICTIMS FOR FAMILIES & FRIENDS OF SCAM VICTIMS
This SCARS Publishing book represents a complete guide to help the families and friends understand how these scams work and how to help the victim.
The SCARS Slate Book should be purchased by family and friends to better understand what happened to the victim and the traumatic impact on them. But it can also be shared by the victim so that they do not have to explain to family and friends about the scam. This publication is to help others to help Scam Victims to make it through this traumatic experience and recover.
Each person is different and it is important to understand how relationship scamsRelationship Scam A Relationship Scam is a one-to-one criminal act that involves a trust relationship and uses deception & manipulation to get a victim to give to the criminal something of value, such as money! Click here to learn more: What Is A Relationship Scam? work and why people are vulnerable; to being scammed, how they were lured in, then groomed and manipulated. This understanding is essential in helping them through the process of ending the scam and then on to recovery. The SCARS Slate Book will provide the information necessary to help support a victim through this process.
SCARS PEARL BOOK – The SCARS Online Safety Password Log Book
AN ONLINE SAFETY TOOL FROM SCARS HELPS YOU TO STAY SAFE ONLINE!
We all know that we need to create and maintain stronger & safer passwords, but how can anyone possibly manage them? Actually, the process is not that hard with the right tools. Every only user needs to have two items: 1) a Password Manager App (such as LastPass or TrueKey), and 2) a master password log book!
But if you have a password manager app why do you need a logbook too? Because what if you are unable to access your password manager? What do you do then? The truth is that all software can be unavailable at times, or what do you do if you forget the password to your password manager? The answer is to have a backup logbook where you store all of your passwords in an organized way.
The SCARS PEARL BOOK helps to remind you about how to create strong passwords and how to keep them safe, but most importantly organizes all of your passwords in one place by accounts wor websites, making them easy to maintain and find when you need them.
Your Feedback!
Please share your feedback below. Hearing from victims helps us refine our knowledge about scammer’s processes and methods, and then be able to better share factual authoritative information with victims worldwide. Please scroll down and share your thoughts and comments. What you think and experienced matters.
Please Share:
Please share our articles and knowledge with your friends & family. This is important!
Help others stay safe online – your knowledge can make the difference for both those being groomed and victims! The next victim might be your own family member or best friend!
By the SCARS™ Editorial Team
Society of Citizens Against Relationship ScamsSCARS SCARS - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
A government registered crime victims' assistance & crime prevention nonprofit organization based in Miami, Florida, U.S.A. SCARS supports the victims of scams worldwide and through its partners in more than 60 countries around the world. Incorporated in 2015, its team has 30 years of continuous experience educating and supporting scam victims.
Visit www.AgainstScams.org to learn more about SCARS. Inc.
A Worldwide Crime Victims Assistance & Crime Prevention Nonprofit Organization Headquartered In Miami Florida USA & Monterrey NL Mexico, with Partners In More Than 60 Countries
To Learn More, Volunteer, or Donate Visit: www.AgainstScams.org
Contact Us: Contact@AgainstScams.org
