SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
This Year Marks Our 25th Year
25 Years Ago We Started On America Online Warning About Online Fraud
We began our quest to educate and inform about scams, frauds, and cons, 25 years ago on the old AOL.
We started with an American Online forum about AOL cons.
About a year and a half later, we became aware of people in the dating and romance forums getting scammed as well. So we created a new forum for Romance Scams. Yes that name was in use then. It was coined by a group member (wish we could remember who). At one point we had over 100,000 voices participating in this emerging type of online fraud.
Here is an old screen shot from about 1993
Our Forum on America Online (AOL) 1993 About Romance Scams
Even in the early days on America Online, any number of frauds were running. Our own principal was a victim of one of these then. The Nigerians were running letter scams in the U.S. and the U.K. and making decent money, but when they discovered AOL they started getting creative with their 419 scams. However, we started to see real Romance Scams by about late ’92 – mostly with fraudsters in each country. These were the same con-men and women that were engaged in other kinds of locally-based frauds. They figured out that they could create a fake personality and connect with victims to scam they money. Western Union was only too happy to transfer the money, and it wasn’t even much of a crime then. In those days, the scammers were not as greedy as today, and settled for small amounts that wouldn’t bring much police attention.
By 1995 we were on the web, as a subsection of the TigerDirect.com website, since our principal was a co-founder and senior executive of TigerDirect. He published a large section on their website about retail and other kinds of fraud under his webmaster’s page. In 1998, it was ported to a new website, which was published until 2012. At which point that website was shut down, and the new Romance Scams Now website was launched.
We, and other outstanding groups, such as RomanceScam.com and others, have worked tirelessly to help educate about online fraud, expose scammers, support enforcement where possible, and increase overall awareness of the world of online scams.
Thank you for your support over the years.
Together We Are Making A Difference!
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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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