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Scam Fraud and Related Terms Glossary An Expanded Glossary for Awareness How Scams Work - A SCARS Institute Insight Authors: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract Scam and fraud vocabulary helps victims, families, educators, and support providers recognize the many words used to describe deception, theft, manipulation, and financial exploitation. Terms [...]
Combating Cybercrime, Fraud, and Predatory Schemes Against American Citizens United States President Trump Issued a New Executive Order Government Actions - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract Cyber-enabled fraud has evolved into a global organized crime problem that causes billions of dollars in losses for American [...]
A Letter to Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America A Policy Brief to the Trump Administration A SCARS Institute Initiative September 5, 2025 Hon. Donald J. Trump, 47th President of the United States of America 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, District of Columbia Strengthening U.S. Cybercrime Defense and Victim Support: A Policy Brief Executive summary Cybercrime has outpaced the nation’s current defenses, creating a [...]
How to Write/Email to Congress - Every Survivor's Guide Why Every Scam Victim and Family Member Should Email Congress Right Now Scam Survivor Activism - A SCARS Institute Guide Authors: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. See Author Biographies Below Article Abstract Online scams have reached epidemic proportions, impacting [...]
The Stand Alone Complex and Individual or Small Scammer Groups The Stand Alone Complex and Scam Operations: How Small Scammer Groups Mimic Large Networks Criminology - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Abstract The concept of the Stand Alone Complex offers valuable insight into the structure of [...]
The 764 Network An Analysis and Profile of a Global Transnational Satanic Nihilist Online Predator Scammer & Hacker Ring Organized Crime Profile - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract The 764 network, a transnational online predator ring founded around 2018, exemplifies the dark potential of [...]
Understanding West African Scammers' Operations as a Professional Subculture The Criminology of West African Scammers' Organizations and as a Professional Subculture How Scammers Operate - A SCARS Institute Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract West African scammers' organizations operate as structured criminal enterprises with strict hierarchies, initiation [...]
Criminals Use Generative Artificial Intelligence to Facilitate Financial Fraud FBI Warning About How Criminals Exploit Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Escalate Fraud, Impersonation, and Extortion Schemes FBI WARNING - Presented by the SCARS Institute Authors: • United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) • SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract The FBI has issued a [...]
SCARS Institute Christmas 2024 Scammer Elves Identification Guide If You See Any Of These Elves This Holiday Season, RUN! Just For Fun - A SCARS Institute Insight These Are Not Scams [...]
SCARS Institute Halloween 2024 Scam Monster Identification Guide If You See Any Of These Monsters, RUN! Just For Fun - A SCARS Institute Insight These Are Not Scams [...]
Subliminal Messaging: A New Scammer's Tool Against Scam Victims How Online Scammers May Be Using Subliminal Messaging to Control Their Victims Now and in the Future Part 1 of a 2-Part Series - Part 2 is on ScamsNOW.com Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Institute Insight Authors: • Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. [...]
SCARS Anti-Scam ToolBox UPDATED 2026 Resources for Every Scam Victim/Survivor Tools to help you avoid scams, fraud, and cybercrime are crucial in today's Internet age where these threats are increasingly sophisticated and pervasive. These tools, including antivirus software, secure password managers, two-factor authentication, and phishing filters, provide essential layers of protection by detecting and blocking malicious activities before they cause harm. These tools help safeguard personal and financial information, [...]
Online Grooming In All Of Its Forms It is Important for Everyone to Understand this Critical Phase in Almost All Scams Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Article Abstract Online grooming and online manipulation and control are related but distinct concepts. Grooming involves predators [...]
Confronting Scammers & The Consequences Of What Can Follow It Is A Bad Idea To Confront Them When You Catch On To Them! What Happens When You Confront Your Scammer? Only Bad Things! Psychology of Scams - A SCARS Insight Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Originally Published: 2019 - Article Updated: 2024 [...]
DeepFake Videos Are Now So Easy Any Scammer Can Do It! Free Tools Make It Easy For Scammers To Fake Videos How Scams Work - A SCARS Insight Free DeepFake Video Software Has Arrived For All Scammers What is DeepFake? Deepfake (or DeepFake) refers to the technique of using artificial intelligence (AI) software to create realistic and often convincing manipulated media, such as deepfake images, deepfake videos, or deepfake audio [...]
Doxware - An Evolution In Malware/Extortionware A New Kind Of Ransomware That Steals Your Documents How Scams Work - A SCARS Insight Doxware Is A New Evolution In Cyber-Extortion With The Same Goal In Mind As Sextortion, Doxware Steals Documents And Photos For The Purpose Of Extortion, But Unlike Sextortion It Uses Malware. Doxware is a type of malware that threatens to publish a victim's private information online unless a [...]
Scam Victims Must Always Tell The Truth When Talking With Law Enforcement Law Enforcement Has Changed Their Attitude Toward Scam Victims - So Always Be Truthful Reporting Scams & Scammers - A SCARS Special Report We Have Seen Recently That Law Enforcement Can Be Very Supportive Of Scam Victims! But Not When They Lie Or Hide Information! We know that reporting these crimes can be very hard. Scam Victims feel [...]
Top Lies Romance Scammers Tell Insights from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission How Scams Work - A SCARS Special Report Author: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth - Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Originally Published: 2022 - Article Updated: 2024 SCARS Encyclopedia of Scams Article Abstract Romance scammers employ elaborate lies and stories to manipulate their victims, ultimately [...]
Scam Victim Grooming - Turning On The Instant Emotions The Psychology of Scams A SCARS Insight Grooming - Dominating Through Manipulation When grooming is discussed, it’s often in the context of adults using the manipulation tactic to abuse and exploit children. However, children are not the only population at risk of being groomed. Many adults in toxic or abusive relationships will experience grooming as their partner’s attempt to build a [...]
The Relationship Scam End Game: The Confession Scam and Other Strategies How Scammers Try One Last Time And Close Up The Scam A SCARS Insight This information can apply to most types of scams, from Romance Scams to Lotto Scams, to Government Impersonation Scams, to Grandparent Scams, and many more. When a victim discovers the truth the scammer will react in one of several predictable ways that we call "End Game Scams." [...]
Identify and Stop Scam/Spam Text Messages Staying Safe On Your Phone A SCARS Guide Text Message Scams, Phishing Messages, & Spam Texts One Of The Greatest Battlegrounds Of Today's Internet Is On Your Phone! Text and Instant messaging is a growing source of cybercrime and this means that as much as half of all are victimized. In Brazil. alone in 2020 there were more than 5 million WhatsApp victims. Of [...]
![What Is A Relationship Scam? [INFOGRAPHIC]](https://romancescamsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/What-Is-A-Relationship-Scam.png "What Is A Relationship Scam? [INFOGRAPHIC] What Is A Relationship Scam")
What Is A Relationship Scam? Understanding Scams Infographic! A SCARS Insight A Relationship Scam - Don't You mean A Romance Scam? Nope! The Definition of a Relationship Scam: It 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! A Relationship Scam includes many different types of scams, each with [...]
Lost Pet Scam - Going For Your Heart Owners Of Pets Who Post About Their Lost Pets Are Being Scammed A SCARS Special Report New scam targets owners of lost pets THIS IS AN IDENTITY THEFT & IMPERSONATION ATTACK What To Watch Out For: A new scam is targeting owners of lost pets. The scammers text the lost pet’s owner claiming they have the dog or cat but [...]
Doxing - A Kind of Terrorism or Cyberbullying? Having Private Information Exposed By Someone To Hurt You! A SCARS Special Report There Are A Lot Of Despicable Things Done Online Many Are Intended Just To Hurt You Some are intended to hurt you financially, some emotionally, some - such as DOXING - are intended to hurt you in every way possible Think about your [...]
Anti-Scam FAQ: What Is A Relationship Scam Answer: In the broadest sense, a Relationship Scam is one when there is a relationship between the scammer (or group of scammers) and the victim. This means the scammer(s) are communicating directly with the victim, as opposed to a computer luring or trapping the victim to exploit them. A Relationship Scam does not depend on just one type of medium or communication type, and [...]
FBI Releases 2020 Internet Crime Report In 2020, while the American public was focused on protecting our families from a global pandemic and helping others in need, cybercriminals took advantage of an opportunity to profit from our dependence on technology to go on an Internet crime spree. These criminals used phishing, spoofing, extortion, and various types of Internet-enabled fraud to target the most vulnerable in our society - medical workers searching for personal protective [...]
Financial Crime Online – Don’t Become a Victim! COVID Scams are still a very real threat, but there are more than just romance scams! This refresher will help you to continue avoiding them! Common Current Online & Phone Financial Crimes Follow some common sense rules to reduce your chance of being a victim of financial crime Criminals are quick to exploit the ignorance and vulnerability of their victims. [...]
Please Help Us Help Scam Victims Worldwide By Making A Small Donation To SCARS Your generous contribution of Just $5 will help us continue to educate & support the victims of relationship scams. You will be helping to support free scam avoidance education for adults & children, free victims' assistance & support, free victim recovery programs, real advocacy on behalf of victims, online crime prevention programs, and so much more that SCARS delivers. Click [...]
SCARS™ Anti-Scam Tip: Confrontation & The Scammer Dodge Scammers are professionals and have developed techniques to stay connected with their victims at moments of crisis. An example of this is this comment left on our site by a victim. We present it to illustrate a point: I was chatting with Asian guy claimed to be a major and deployed in Kabul Afghanistan. His parents died in a plane crash and ex-wife died in a car [...]
SCARS™ Special Report: UNODC Cybercrime And COVID19 Risks and Responses During the global Chinese Coronavirus Pandemic scammers & cybercriminals worldwide are working overtime to take advantage of this unique opportunity to scam tens of millions of victims. The following is the analysis of this situation from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime - a United Nations oversight body tracking global transnational crime trends. This report is from the UNODC Cybercrime and Anti-Money Laundering [...]
SCARS™ Scam Definition: EXTORTION Many Scam Victims Are Frequently Confused About The Definitions Of Cyber-Enabled Crimes, Such As Scams, Blackmail Or Extortion EXTORTION IS VERY SIMPLY OBTAINING BENEFIT THROUGH COERCION In most jurisdictions, extortion is a criminal offense. Pure and simple! Here is the definition in many U.S. States' Legal Codes: The crime of Extortion is committed when a person maliciously threatens to: Accuse another of any crime or offense; Injure the person, property or [...]
SCARS™ Scam News: Anti-Scam Story Of The Year! Arrests Exceed 70,000 Worldwide in 2019 WORLDWIDE ARRESTS OF CYBERCRIMINALS HAVE PASSED 70,000 - COMPARED TO 21,000 IN 2018 China alone is responsible for more than 60,000 cyber/scammer arrests in 2019 [Source: China's Ministry of State Security & China News Service - as related by SCARS|CHINA] Internet Crime Crackdown Leads To 60,000 Arrests Officially Announced On November 15, 2019 By The Official PRC News Agency Internet [...]
SCARS™ Guide: How To Interrogate Someone You Suspect Of Being A Scammer Once You Begin To Suspect You Are Being Scammed Do Not Confront The Scammer That You Suspect Confronting the scammer is pointless - in fact, it can harm you. Instead, take some time and confirm it properly through the same interrogation techniques used by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation [lwptoc] First, do not confront the scammer. Let them continue to believe that [...]
SCARS™ Scam News: 2 men accused of blackmailing Tony Clement over explicit images arrested in Ivory Coast 2 men accused of blackmailing Tony Clement over explicit images arrested in Ivory Coast Two men in West African country of Ivory Coast are accused of posing as a woman online to blackmail former Conservative MP Tony Clement with sexually explicit photos he sent them. Clement, who is married with three children, admitted in November to sending [...]
SCARS™ Special Report: U.S. Army Warning: Fake Soldiers Army CID is warning anyone who is involved in online dating to proceed with caution when corresponding with persons claiming to be U.S. Soldiers currently serving in Afghanistan or elsewhere. The following has been reprinted from the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command Online Romance Scam Information Army CID is warning anyone who is involved in online dating to proceed with caution when corresponding with persons [...]
Scammer Threats & Blackmail [UPDATED] Scammer Urban Legends: Chapter 5 SCARS - How Scams Work Scammer Urban Legends: Scammer Threats & Blackmail Scammer Threats & Blackmail Are Real - Real Lies! Are They Coming To Get You? No Originally published January 2018, Updated September 2018 CHAPTER FIVE: The Threats Scammers Make Scammer Threats And Blackmail - Are they real? After you have been scammed, a multitude of feelings are going [...]
Proposed Congressional Bill: Online Safety Modernization Act of 2017 Would make doxxing and other online acts a federal crime! As a part of their election promises, this administration committed to make us safer online and to create mechanisms to go after global online criminal organizations. Already we have seen to significant Elective Orders from President Trump, and now Congress is continuing the momentum with the Online Safety Modernization Act of 2017 At no time in [...]
The Plague Of Online Fraud Every 5 Seconds Someone Is Scammed Online Online fraud is more pervasive and widespread than even the government knows. Everyone knows someone who has been scammed online. We invite you to finally understand the true dangers online and what you can do about it – to avoid, to recover, and to stop it! October 27, 2017 Thursday 6-8pm at Florida National University in Miami - 4425 W 20th Ave, Hialeah, FL 33012 Scams [...]
What are the dangers from scammers? You know the obvious one - you fall for a scammer and they take your soul and money. But are their other dangers? THAT IS A BIG FAT YES! So what are they? PROBLEM #1: Access. To start with the obvious, by friending a scammer you give them access to your family and friends, even your children! This is how they prospect for more victims, like a leech they [...]
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