Why Do Scam Victims Vilify Scammers?

Why Do Traumatized Scam Victims Prefer To Vilify Scammers And Believe That They Are Evil Demons Or Subhuman?

This is a complex question about good and evil in scammers.

The experience of being scammed can be incredibly traumatic for many people. Scammers use a variety of tactics to deceive and manipulate their victims, often leaving them feeling vulnerable, ashamed, and violated. As a result, it’s not uncommon for scam victims to develop negative perceptions of scammers, viewing them as evil, subhuman, or demonic.

In this essay, we’ll explore why this phenomenon occurs and what it can tell us about the psychology of trauma.

One reason why scam victims may vilify scammers is that it helps them to make sense of their experience.

Scams can be incredibly confusing and disorienting, leaving victims feeling like they’ve been taken advantage of or betrayed. By demonizing the scammer, victims can create a narrative that makes sense of what happened to them. They can tell themselves that they were targeted by an evil or malicious person, rather than feeling like they were foolish or gullible.

Remember, scam victims ARE NOT foolish, gullible, or naive!

This type of thinking can be especially appealing to victims who feel like they’ve lost control of their lives. Scams often leave victims feeling powerless, as if they’ve been taken advantage of by someone who has more knowledge or resources than they do. Vilifying the scammer can help victims to regain some sense of power and control over the situation. By viewing the scammer as subhuman or demonic, victims can create a mental image of someone who is weaker or less powerful than they are. This can help to restore some of the victim’s sense of agency and control, which can be a crucial part of the healing process.

However, the irony is that this is the exact opposite of what they need to recover.

Consider the logic of believing that scammers are weaker, lazier, or inferior to the victim. This means they were scammed by someone dumber and weaker than they are. How does that make them feel? It creates shame and guilt and self-blame – how could someone like that have defeated them so easily?

Another reason why scam victims may vilify scammers is that it can be a way of protecting themselves emotionally.

Being scammed can be a deeply humiliating experience, especially if the victim feels like they should have known better. Vilifying the scammer can help victims to distance themselves from the experience, minimizing the emotional impact it has on them. If the victim can convince themselves that the scammer is evil or subhuman, they can avoid feeling like they were foolish or naive for falling for the scam.

This type of thinking can be particularly common in cases where the victim has lost a significant amount of money or other assets. Financial losses can be devastating, leaving victims feeling vulnerable and exposed. Vilifying the scammer can be a way of coping with the shame and embarrassment that often comes with losing money. By blaming the scammer for their losses, victims can avoid feeling like they were responsible for what happened to them.

It’s worth noting that not all scam victims react in this way. Some may be more inclined to blame themselves or feel embarrassed, while others may seek to understand the motivations of the scammer and the broader societal factors that allow scams to occur. However, for those who do vilify scammers, it’s important to recognize that this type of thinking is not necessarily an accurate or fair portrayal of the scammer as an individual.

Scammers are human beings who have made a choice to engage in unethical or illegal behavior, but they are not inherently evil or subhuman. This type of thinking can be especially problematic if it leads to acts of violence or retribution against the scammer. While it’s natural to feel angry or resentful after being scammed, it’s important to channel those emotions in constructive ways that don’t harm others.

Furthermore, vilifying scammers can also lead to the dehumanization of other people who are perceived as “different” or “other.” When we start to view certain groups of people as less than human, it can create a dangerous precedent that justifies violence, discrimination, or oppression against those groups. This can apply to other victims too who were scammed by these lazy, stupid, evil scammers.

Therefore, it’s important to recognize that vilifying scammers is not a productive or constructive way of dealing with the trauma of being scammed.

It is important to recognize that scammers do evil but are not really evil themselves (at least the majority of them – exceptions do occur). It is important to remember that scammers are doing a job – a terrible job that hurts people – but for them, it is a job, a business, and they are disconnected from the pain they cause.

Understanding the true nature of scammers, and that they were better prepared – in fact experts in what they do will actually make it easier for victims to recover from the experience and in the process forgive themselves for having been scammed.

Believing That Scammers Are Evil Or Demons Can Easily Covert Into Hate In Scam Victims

Believing that scammers are evil or demons can be a common reaction among scam victims.

This belief can arise from the sense of violation and betrayal that victims often feel after being scammed. However, when this belief is taken to an extreme, it can lead to hate and prejudice against scammers.

One way that this can happen is through the process of dehumanization.

When people see others as subhuman or evil, they are more likely to treat them in ways that are cruel and degrading. This can lead to a cycle of hate and prejudice, where the victim becomes more and more entrenched in their belief that scammers are evil, and as a result, they become more and more willing to engage in hateful behavior towards scammers, hurting themselves and avoiding recovery in the process.

For example, a scam victim who believes that scammers are evil may be more likely to engage in vigilantism or harassment against suspected scammers – which serves no real purpose – it does not increase arrests, it just increases their own anger, rage, and hate.

This belief can also lead to a lack of empathy for scammers, or in fact anyone that disagrees with their positions, which can further perpetuate the cycle of hate and prejudice. Scammers are often seen as deserving of punishment or retribution, rather than as individuals who may have their own vulnerabilities or difficult life circumstances. This can make it easier for scam victims to engage in hateful behavior, as they are less likely to see scammers as fellow human beings who are capable of experiencing pain and suffering and making their own mistakes.

It’s important to recognize that while scammers may engage in unethical or illegal behavior, they are still human beings who are capable of experiencing a range of emotions and experiences. Engaging in hate or prejudice towards scammers not only perpetuates harmful stereotypes and beliefs, but it can also prevent scam victims from fully processing and healing from their own trauma.

Instead of focusing on hate and prejudice, it’s important for scam victims to seek out support and healing. Therapy and support groups can be helpful in allowing victims to process their emotions and experiences in a safe and non-judgmental environment. Education and awareness-raising campaigns (like this article) can also help to dispel harmful stereotypes and beliefs about scammers while promoting empathy and understanding towards individuals who engage in scamming behavior.

Ultimately, it’s important for scam victims to recognize that while their feelings of anger and betrayal towards scammers are valid, engaging in hate or prejudice towards these individuals is not a helpful or productive way to cope with their trauma. Instead, it’s important to focus on healing and moving forward, while also advocating for measures that can prevent future scamming behavior and hold scammers accountable for their actions in a fair and just manner.

SCARS NOTE: please do not misunderstand. We believe that all scammers should face arrest and trial. They should be convicted of the crimes they commit and repay their victims in the process. However, looking at them as evil makes it impossible to fully recover from the crime the victims experienced. Eventually, victims must forgive themselves, and holding that hate inside makes that impossible.

Coping Mechanisms

Coping mechanisms are strategies that people use to manage the stress and emotional turmoil that they experience in response to difficult situations.

Coping mechanisms can be helpful in the short term, allowing people to feel more in control of their emotions and thoughts. However, when the mind creates coping mechanisms that are used in excess or become habitual, they can be harmful in the long run. This is especially true for scam victims who may have experienced significant trauma as a result of being scammed.

One reason why coping mechanisms can be harmful in the long run for scam victims is that they can prevent the person from fully processing and healing from the trauma. Coping mechanisms are often used as a way of avoiding difficult emotions or memories associated with the traumatic event (such as the scam and scammer.) While this can be helpful in the short term, it can also prevent the person from fully confronting and processing the trauma.

For example, if a scam victim copes by avoiding thinking about the scam altogether, they may miss out on the opportunity to learn from their experience and take steps to prevent future scams. Similarly, if a scam victim copes by engaging in self-destructive behaviors such as substance abuse, or losing themselves to anger & hate, they may be compounding their problems rather than addressing the underlying trauma.

Another reason why coping mechanisms can be harmful in the long run for scam victims is that they can create a cycle of avoidance and self-blame. Coping mechanisms that involve blaming oneself or others for the trauma can perpetuate feelings of shame and guilt. For example, a scam victim who copes by blaming themselves for falling for the scam may feel like they are responsible for their own victimization. This can lead to a cycle of self-blame and avoidance, where the person avoids dealing with the trauma by engaging in unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Finally, coping mechanisms can be harmful because they can prevent the person from seeking help and support. Coping mechanisms that involve isolating oneself from others or denying the severity of the trauma can make it difficult for the person to reach out for help when they need it. For example, a scam victim who copes by avoiding social situations may miss out on the opportunity to connect with others who can offer support and understanding.

If you need support visit support.AgainstScams.org to sign up for a SCARS Support Group now!

In order to avoid the harmful effects of coping mechanisms, it’s important for scam victims to seek out professional help and support. Therapy can be a helpful way for scam victims to process their trauma and learn healthy coping strategies. Support groups can also be a helpful way for scam victims to connect with others who have had similar experiences.

It’s also important for scam victims to be patient and kind to themselves as they navigate the healing process. Healing from trauma is a long and difficult journey, and it’s important for scam victims to take the time they need to fully confront and process their experiences. While coping mechanisms can be helpful in the short term, they are not a substitute for the healing and support that a person needs in order to fully recover from the trauma of being scammed.

For scam victim trauma counseling & therapy resources click here.

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