FTC Cracks Down On Fake & Scam Advertising
U.S. Federal Trade Commission Issues Orders to Social Media and Video Streaming Platforms For 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. Advertising 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 Cracks Down On Fake & Scam Advertising Regulatory Action - A SCARS Special Report FTC Issues Orders to Social Media and Video Streaming Platforms Regarding Efforts to Address [...]
MoneyGram Refunds Update
MoneyGram Refunds Update Updated February 10, 2023 Victim Money Recovery - A SCARS Insight MoneyGram Refunds Finally Flowing To Victims More than $115 Million in MoneyGram Refunds Sent to Consumers as a Result of FTC, DOJ Charges That MoneyGram Failed to Crack Down on 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. [...]
Romance Scammers – Top Lies They Tell
Top Lies Romance Scammers Tell Insights from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission How Scams Work - A SCARS Special Report New FTC Data Reveals Top Lies Told by Romance Scammers Why Do Romance Scammers Lie Or Tell Stories To Groom And Manipulate Their Victims? Romance [...]
SCARS Testifies Before The FTC About Data Privacy
SCARS Testifies Before The FTC About Data Privacy Victims' Advocacy A SCARS Special Report The 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. was invited to testify before the U.S. Federal Trade Commission regarding data collection and surveillance, and data security regulation.The FTC is developing a new [...]
FTC Goes After Walmart – Like It Did Western Union & MoneyGram
FTC Goes After Walmart - Like It Did Western Union & MoneyGram U.S. Federal Trade Commission Enforcement Action A SCARS Special Report This Is A Perfect Example Of Why You Need To Preserve The Evidence It is vital to never throw away the evidence of [...]
Small Business Scams: A Guide for Business
Small Business Scams A Guide for Business Presented by SCARS Small Business Scams Target Small Businesses Just As Much As Individuals If you own a small business or are part of a non-profit organization, you spend a lot of time and effort making sure the [...]
What To Know About Tax Identity Theft [UPDATED 2022]
What To Know About Tax Identity TheftIdentity Theft Identity theft is when someone uses another person's personal identifying information, without their permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. In both the U.K. and the United States it is the theft of personally identifiable information. Identity theft deliberately uses someone else's identity as a method to gain financial advantages or obtain credit and other benefits, and perhaps to cause other person's loss. The person whose identity has been stolen may suffer adverse consequences, especially if they are falsely held responsible for the perpetrator's actions. Personally identifiable information generally includes a person's name, date of birth, social security number, driver's license number, bank account or credit card numbers, PINs, electronic signatures, fingerprints, passwords, or any other information that can be used to access a person's financial resources. Courtesy of the Federal Trade Commission Presented by SCARS Learn What Tax Identity Theft Is! This information is primarily focused on United States Tax Payers, but the risk is worldwide. What you can do to guard against it, [...]
SCARS Webinar: Telling Your Story – Part 1 The Police [VIDEO]
Telling Your Story - Part 1 The Police [VIDEO] A SCARS Webinar [VIDEO] April 16, 2022 Every Scam Victim Need To Tell Their Story That Process Begins With Telling The Police! We explore the topic of how to do this in great detail, starting with [...]
Understanding Law Enforcement
Understanding Law Enforcement A SCARS Insight Confusion About Law Enforcement Thank you Vianey Gonzalez of SCARS|Latinoamerica for asking this question LAW ENFORCEMENT Law enforcement agencies around the world have the mission of accepting reports from victims, investigating crimes, and arresting alleged criminals. That is their [...]
SCARS Webinar: Justice [VIDEO]
Justice - What This Means For Scam Victims A SCARS Webinar [VIDEO] April 9, 2022 Every Scam Victim Wants Justice But What Is It Really? We explore the topic of what Justice is, how it works in the CriminalCriminal A criminal is any person who through a decision or act engages in a crime. This can be complicated, as many people break laws unknowingly, however, in our context, it is a person who makes a decision to engage in unlawful acts or to place themselves with others who do this. A criminal always has the ability to decide not to break the law, or if they initially engage in crime to stop doing it, but instead continues. Justice System worldwide - how police [...]
Common Health Scams – What You Don’t Know Can Kill You
Common Health Scams What You Don't Know Can Kill You A SCARS Insight Portions Courtesy of the Federal Trade Commission Report All 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. to the FTC Health Scams Not Only Steal Your Money But Affect Your Health! People spend billions of dollars a year on [...]
U.S. Federal Trade Commission Pivots In Major Change On Impersonation Scams
U.S. Federal Trade Commission Pivots In Major Change On 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. Scams This is the first significant action to help protect consumers since 2020 A SCARS Special Report On December 16, 2021 SCARS Was Invited By The U.S. Federal Trade Commission To Testify On that day, [...]
Latest Update On Western Union Repayment Program – June 30 2021
Latest Update On Western Union Repayment Program - June 2021 They Are Re-Opening Their Program To New Applicants Worldwide - Wednesday, June 30, 2021 A SCARS Money Recovery Update “We are pleased that thus far over $350 million has been returned to approximately 150,000 victims, many who are among [...]
A Quick Reminder To Report All Scams
A Quick Reminder To Report All Scams A SCARS Anti-Scam Tip Click Here To Learn Why Reporting Matters! Click Here How Do You Properly Report Scammers? REPORT EVERY SCAM - IT MATTERS! It is essential that law enforcement knows [...]
U.S. FTC MoneyGram Refund Program Opens To Take Claims
U.S. FTC MoneyGram Refund Program Opens To Take Claims A SCARS Special Report Finally, After Nearly 4 Years Of Waiting! However, Pay Attention Because The Time Is VERY Short To Apply For A Refund Qualifications: Sent money via MoneyGram between January 1, 2013 and [...]
Identity Theft Awareness Week
Identity Theft can Happen to Anyone, Especially Scam Victims, but there are things You Can Do to Reduce Your Risk. Join the FTC and SCARS for free webinars and other events during Identity Theft Awareness Week, February 1 – 5, 2021. We’ll highlight what you can do to [...]
SCAM WARNING: Fake FTC – Federal Trade Commission Websites
SCAM WARNING: Fake FTC - Federal Trade Commission Websites Government Impersonation Websites are very common! Always verify the web address (URL) of any government website before interacting. ScamWarning: “US Trading Commission” website is not the FTC Government Impersonation Scams Catch Million of Victims! [...]
SCAM Basics: The FTC’s How To Avoid Scams
SCAM Basics: The FTC's How To Avoid Scams Helpful Insights From The United States Government How to Avoid a Scam Recognizing these common signs of a scam could help you avoid falling for one. FOUR SIGNS THAT IT’S A SCAM 1. Scammers PRETEND [...]
SCARS™ Special Report: Fake Checks Scams
SCARS™ Special Report: Fake Checks Scams If Someone You Don’t Know Sends You A Check And Asks For Money Back, That’s A Scam Fake checks drive many types of scams — like those involving phony job and income opportunities, online classified ad sales, and others. In a fake check scamFake Check Scam In this con, the victim deposits a phony check and then returns a portion by wire transfer to the scammer. The stories vary, but the victim is often told they are refunding an “accidental” overpayment. Scammers count on the fact that banks make funds available within days of a deposit but can take weeks to detect a fake check., a [...]
SCARS™ Scam Alert: Tax Identity Thieves And IRS Imposters Are Ready For Tax Season
SCARS™ Scam Alert: Tax Identity Thieves And IRSIRS The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the revenue & tax service of the United States federal government responsible for collecting taxes and administering the Internal Revenue Code (the main body of federal statutory tax law.) It is part of the Department of the Treasury and led by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, who is appointed to a five-year term by the President of the United States. The duties of the IRS include providing tax assistance to taxpayers; pursuing and resolving instances of erroneous or fraudulent tax filings; and overseeing various benefits programs. Visit www.IRS.gov to learn more. Imposters Are Ready For Tax Season Tax identity thieves and IRS imposters are ready for tax season, whether you are or not. Join the FTC and its partners for Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week to find out how to protect yourself, and [...]
SCARS™ Insight: U.S. Government Study Finds Millennials Are 25 Percent More Likely To Report Scams
SCARS™ Insight: U.S. Government Study Finds Millennials Are 25 Percent More Likely To Report Scams Even So, That Raises It From About 5% To 7% Of Them The Federal Trade Commission Says Millennials Are 25 Percent More Likely To Report That They Have Lost Money To Fraud Than Consumers Aged [...]
SCARS™ Advocacy: Are You Using Match.com? FTC Finally Brings Action!
SCARS™ Advocacy: Are You Using Match.com? FTC Finally Brings Action! The Federal Government Takes Action Against Match.com For Their Failure To Maintain Safety For Their Users [lwptoc] Online Dating Sites Are A Common Way People Seek Romance - But What If, Instead Of A Potential Match, You Find A 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.? Today, [...]
SCARS™ Analytics: Romance Scams Rank Number One On Total Reported Losses
SCARS™ Analytics: Romance Scams Rank Number One On Total Reported Losses According to the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the Federal Trade Commission, Romance Scams Come Out On Top! People looking for romance are hoping to be swept off their feet, not caught up in a scam. But tens of [...]
SCARS™ Advocacy: What The FTC Facebook Settlement Means For Consumers
SCARS™ Advocacy: What The FTC Facebook Settlement Means For Consumers The Next Time Users Visit Facebook, Things Might Not Look Different, But Big Changes Are Brewing Behind The Scenes [lwptoc] The FTC’s record-breaking $5 billion settlement requires Facebook to conduct a massive overhaul of its consumer privacy practices. The settlement [...]
Essential Tools For Every Scam 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 From SCARS Publishing
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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 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, 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 SLATE BOOK – Let Us Explain What Happened!
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 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.
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