---
title: "What Every Scam Victim Needs To Understand"
canonical: https://romancescamsnow.com/what-every-scam-victims-need-to-understand/
type: post
author: "SCARS Institute Editorial Team"
published: 2023-01-09
modified: 2023-01-10
categories: ["♦ SCAM VICTIM RECOVERY", "2023", "Insights", "Recovery Psychology", "Scam Victim Recovery"]
summary: ""
organization: "SCARS Institute - Encyclopedia of Scans - World's #1 Anti-Scam Website - Romance Scams NOW"
organization_url: https://romancescamsnow.com/
llms: https://romancescamsnow.com/llms.txt
---

# What Every Scam Victim Needs To Understand

# What Every Scam Victim Needs To Understand

## The Basics For New Victims

### Scam Victim Recovery - A SCARS Insight

## 25 Things Every Scam Victim Needs To Understand
💔❤️‍🩹❤️

## What is important for every scam victim to understand at the very beginning after the scam ends?

1. ### You are not to blame, it was not your fault - period, no equivocations - there is no shame in being the victim of a crime
2. ### You need to be able to talk about your experience
3. ### You need to understand that you saw no red flags
4. ### You need to learn how you were controlled and manipulated - why it works and how it was done
5. ### You need to learn why the scam happened and what helped make you vulnerable - so you understand not to blame yourself and so you do not become a victim again
6. ### You need to understand that you are not alone - there are nearly 60 million other scam victims like you
7. ### You need to understand that support is not a right, you have to work for it
8. ### You need to understand that there are just as many fake experts as scammers
9. ### You need to understand that the police are not there for your support, they are there just to take the report
10. ### You need to understand that there was no HIM or HER, there was only THEY - scammers work in teams
11. ### You need to understand that this was a CRIME - it was FRAUD - they are CRIMINALS
12. ### You need to understand that no one can save you, you must save yourself
13. ### You need to understand that as hard as this is, you can survive this and come out the other end a better person
14. ### You need to understand that your family & friends are also victims, they will not understand until you can help them to understand
15. ### You need to understand that you will be judged and that is not a bad thing, because it can actually help you avoid scams in the future, but don't let it destroy you
16. ### You need to understand that there are consequences, sometimes terrible ones, from the scam, but if you work at it you will prevail
17. ### You need to understand that the criminals are not your job, the police will do what can be done, report them and then worry only about yourself
18. ### You need to understand that your money may not be recoverable, but lots of fakes will tell you they can get it back
19. ### You need to understand that only your financial institution, the police, or the courts can get your money back - but it may not be possible
20. ### You need to understand that you are traumatized and that you will need help to recover - professional help, not some Facebook page
21. ### You need to understand that the grief and emotional impact after a scam ends can be terrible and you may need to ask for help - there is no shame in that
22. ### You need to understand that recovery can take months or years, and then only if you work at it - if you don't it may never come
23. ### You need to understand that your future is in your hands, but that you will need help to get there
24. ### You need to understand that because you are a victim does not mean you understand these crimes, how to recover, or how to help others - in fact the only thing you are an expert at is being scammed
25. ### You need to understand that you cannot help anyone else until you heal yourself

Once you understand these things, you will be well on your way to recovering from the crime that devastated you.

You can learn to avoid them in the future, and stay safe online.

You can learn to help others, including your family and friends.

The SCARS mission is to help you understand these things and show you the path of recovery, but you have to take the steps, one by one, to get there!

A small few scam victims can do it on their own. The vast majority of scam victims will need help.

SCARS recommends that every scam victim seek out local trauma counselors to help them, and join a professionally managed support group - local or online.

Let us know if you want help - we already know that you need it!

**Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth, Director**
SCARS - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
An incorporated nonprofit crime victims' assistance & crime prevention organization supporting scam victims worldwide
Learn more about SCARS at www.AgainstScams.org