Welcome To SCARSSCARS 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.^™

Your Leading Resource About Romance 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.
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Major SCARS Links & Latest Publications
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SCARS Website & Social Media Links

Find Information Related To Romance Scams

SCARS Websites:

• SCARS RomanceScamsNOW.com (this website)
• SCARS ContraEstafas.org
• SCARS Corporate Site
• SCARS Bookstore & Mugshop
• SCARS Anyscam Reporting Scammers
• SCARS Scammer Photo Galleries

SCARS Facebook Pages:

• Main SCARS Page
• Scam News & Information Page
• Military Scammers Page
• Victims’ Support Page
• Spanish Scam News & Information Pages
• Spanish Victims’ Support Page
• SCARS has nearly 100 more, just search for SCARS on Facebook to find them – look for the SCARS Logo

Facebook Groups:

• SCARS English-Language Trauma-Informed Scam Victims Support & Recovery Group for Women
• SCARS English-Language Trauma-Informed Scam Victims Support & Recovery Group for Men
• SCARS Spanish-Language Trauma-Informed Scam Victims Support & Recovery Group for Women

Facebook Messenger:

• Click Here To Message Us – Uses Facebook Messenger

SCARS on Social Media:

• YouTube Channels

• SCARS English Anti-Scam Video Channel
• SCARS/Amigas Contra Estafas Spanish Channel

• Instagram Anti-Scam Posters

• LinkedIn Page

• Twitter News Feed

• Pinterest Anti-Scam Posters

• SCARS has dozens of other Social Media pages, Profiles, Accounts, and Groups – too many to list here!

SCARS Article Catalogs

Catalogs of Related Articles by Subject

After The ScamScam 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.:

• For New Victims –  The Information You Need Now!
• The Psychology of Scams – How & Why It Happened
• Recovering from Scams – How To Get Over This
• Scam Victim Finance & Money Recovery

For Family & Friends:

• For Family & Friends – Helping Others To Understand

For & About Money MulesMoney mules Money mules are a type of money laundering where a person transfers illicit funds through a medium (such as a bank account) to obfuscate where the money came from. There are different types of money mules including witting, unwitting, and complicit.:

• Money Mules & Money Laundering

Avoid Scams:

• Avoid Scams – Tips, Clues & Red Flags

Avoid Fake Soldier Scams:

• U.S. Army Scammers / Fake Soldier Romance Scams
• Recognizing Real United States Military & Soldiers
• How To Spot Fake United States Military ID Cards
• About The U.S. Military
• Guide To U.S. Military Ranks

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. Photos:

• Impersonation Galleries by Identity
• Latest Scammer Photo Galleries on scammerphotos.com
• Old/Legacy RSN Galleries

To Find More Use The Site Search Above!

Sitio Web Completo en Español

ContraEstafas.org

Latest SCARS Articles

Latest SCARS & Related Videos

You Can Make A Difference [VIDEO]

A SCARS Conversation With A Scam Survivor From Vietnam [VIDEO]

SCARS Webinar: Money Recovery or Not? – August 6, 2022 [VIDEO]

Stolen Photos Of Men & Women in the Military July 2022 Collection [VIDEO]

SCARS Webinar: Victim Blaming & Hate – June 25, 2022 [VIDEO]

A SCARS Interview With Prosecutor Erin West – June 21, 2022 [VIDEO]

Latest SCARS Scammer Photos

Visit www.ScammerPhotos.com for the latest SCARS real scammer and stolen photos used by scammers.

New Scam Victims

• 3 Steps For New Victims
• How To Explain It To Others
• For New Victims – Click Here For The Information You Need Now!
• Learn About The Psychology of Scams
• Learn About Recovering from Scams

Information For Family & Friends

• For Family & Friends – Article Catalog
• What To Do To Help A Traumatized Romance Scam Victim

How To Report Scams & Scammers

First Read Our Scam Victim’s Checklist to prepare to speak with the police.

WHERE TO REPORT ALL SCAMS WORLDWIDE

This includes Online Scams, Phone-based FraudFraud In law, fraud is intentional deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain (money or other assets), or to deprive a victim of a legal right. Fraud can violate civil law (e.g., a fraud victim may sue the fraud perpetrator to avoid the fraud or recover monetary compensation) or criminal law (e.g., a fraud perpetrator may be prosecuted and imprisoned by governmental authorities), or it may cause no loss of money, property, or legal right but still be an element of another civil or criminal wrong. The purpose of fraud may be monetary gain or other benefits, for example by obtaining a passport, travel document, or driver's license, or mortgage fraud, where the perpetrator may attempt to qualify for a mortgage by way of false statements. A fraud can also be a hoax, which is a distinct concept that involves deliberate deception without the intention of gain or of materially damaging or depriving a victim., Ecommerce Fraud, Message Scams, Fake Websites, Impersonations (Government, Business, Individual), Email Scams. EVERY REPORT MATTERS!

IF YOU LOST MONEY OR DID NOT LOSE MONEY:

1. Report ALL Scams on the SCARS Network at www.Anyscam.com
2. Report ALL Scams on the U.S. Government FTCFTC The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government whose principal mission is the enforcement of civil (non-criminal) U.S. antitrust law and the promotion of consumer protection. The FTC can also act as a clearinghouse for criminal reports sent to other agencies for investigation and prosecution. To learn more visit www.FTC.gov or to report fraud visit ReportFraud.FTC.gov website at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/?orgcode=SCARS (alerts the FTC for more attention)

IF YOU LOST MONEY:

3. Report to your LOCAL POLICELocal Police The Local Police is your first responder in most countries. In most English-speaking countries and in Europe report to them first. In other countries look for your national cybercrime police units to report scams to. In the U.S., Canada, & Australia, you must report to the local police first. – file a complaint & get a police report number
4. If you live outside of the United States then report also to your National Police – after reporting to your local police – see our worldwide reporting directory here: https://romancescamsnow.com/reporting-entity-directory/

To Stop Scams We Must Get Most Scams Reported – Even If The Report Is Long After The Event – Report It!

ALL REPORTING IS CONFIDENTIAL – YOUR IDENTITY IS NEVER PUBLISHED

THE SCAMMERS OR YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS WILL NEVER KNOW THAT YOU REPORTED THESE SCAMS.

How To Find Counselors Or Therapists

SCARS recommends that ALL SCAM VICTIMS get local 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. 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.

• For low cost or free counseling visit: www.opencounseling.com
• For professional Trauma Counselors or Therapists worldwide visit: www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/trauma-and-ptsd

Updated SCARS Articles