--- title: "What To Do About Scams And Scammers? [UPDATED]" canonical: https://romancescamsnow.com/what-to-do-about-scams-and-scammers/ type: post author: "SCARS Institute Editorial Team" published: 2016-01-12 modified: 2023-08-09 categories: ["♦ SCAM BASICS", "2016", "How To Report Scams & Scammers", "Insights"] 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 To Do About Scams And Scammers? [UPDATED] # What To Do About Scams And Scammers? ## Thoughts On Scammer Options ### Scam Basics - A SCARS Insight ## Many Have Asked "What Can We Do" After They Have Been Scammed We actually have had thousands of scammers identified to their local governments. However, this is totally dependent on the country they operate from. So, it is a long hard road. ## Actually, though, you have many options. First, you should ALWAYS file local police reports for the individual scams - so you have it documented, if nothing else it is a tax deduction in the U.S. If you live in the U.S. you should then file an Internet Crime Report - here is how to do it: [reporting.AgainstScams.org](http://reporting.AgainstScams.org) Most Western Countries have similar agencies to take your information. Be sure that each scammer has been reported here: [reporting.AgainstScams.org](http://reporting.AgainstScams.org) This is so that other potential victims can learn and avoid that scammer. You can also file a complaint directly with the Ghanaian or Nigerian Police (you could get lucky, but you are unlikely to get your money back). However, there is another kind of action. File a lawsuit - do it in a local court against the government of the country in question (African Country). You will get a LOT of attention, and the cost is actually very low. Charge them will negligence and anything else that your attorney can think of. After all, it is their failure to enforce their own laws that led to your loss. And in civil court, the Defendant is presumed GUILTY until proven innocent (unlike criminal courts). Remember your goals: Shame the country of origin; shame and publicize the scammers; shame the dating website (do not name the website as a defendant in the suit - they have money and will fight back); use public opinion aggressively - contact the press. You might get a judgment and surprisingly, these countries have assets in the U.S. that you might seize. Your total cost for the suit could be a couple of thousand, but the upside is actually huge if you win. Another important point is to name everybody that you know about. They have to use real names to receive the money from you. When filing your local and national criminal complaints, this will also help prevent them from ever visiting your country as tourists, and if they do, they can be prosecuted for fraud. Remember, you may have been victimized, but you don't have to remain a victim! ## Fight back! ## Resources: - Sign up for SCARS professional support & recovery groups, visit [support.AgainstScams.org](http://support.AgainstScams.org) - Find competent trauma counselors or therapists, visit [counseling.AgainstScams.org](http://counseling.AgainstScams.org) - Become a SCARS Member and get free counseling benefits, visit [membership.AgainstScams.org](http://membership.AgainstScams.org) - Report each and every crime, learn how to at [reporting.AgainstScams.org](http://reporting.AgainstScams.org) - Learn more about Scams & Scammers at [RomanceScamsNOW.com](http://RomanceScamsNOW.com) and [ScamsNOW.com](http://ScamsNOW.com) - Self-Help Books for Scam Victims are at [shop.AgainsstScams.org](http://shop.AgainsstScams.org) - Donate to SCARS and help us help others at [donate.AgainstScams.org](http://donate.AgainstScams.org) ## More: - [Reporting Scammers – How To Tell Your Story To Your Local Police! (romancescamsnow.com)](https://romancescamsnow.com/dating-scams/reporting-scammers-how-to-tell-your-story-to-your-local-police/) - [Why Reporting Scams Matters? (romancescamsnow.com)](https://romancescamsnow.com/dating-scams/rsn-guide-why-reporting-matters/) - [Can You File A Lawsuit Against Your Scammer & Money Mule? (romancescamsnow.com)](https://romancescamsnow.com/dating-scams/faq-items/can-you-file-a-lawsuit-against-your-scammer-money-mule/) - [Suing Your Money Mule or Scammer (romancescamsnow.com)](https://romancescamsnow.com/dating-scams/suing-your-money-mule-or-scammer/) - [REPORT SCAMS (romancescamsnow.com)](https://romancescamsnow.com/reporting-scams-entity-directory/) - [Reporting Scams & Interacting With The Police – A Scam Victim’s Checklist (romancescamsnow.com)](https://romancescamsnow.com/dating-scams/a-scam-victims-checklist-interacting-with-the-police/) - [Reporting Scams To The United States Secret Service – Cryptocurrency Recovery – Forget The FBI! (romancescamsnow.com)](https://romancescamsnow.com/dating-scams/reporting-scams-to-the-united-states-secret-service-cryptocurrency-recovery-forget-the-fbi-video/) - [Using The IC3.gov Reporting Platform – A SCARS Guide (romancescamsnow.com)](https://romancescamsnow.com/dating-scams/using-the-ic3-gov-reporting-platform-a-scars-guide/) - [What Does The FBI’s IC3.gov Actually Do? (romancescamsnow.com)](https://romancescamsnow.com/dating-scams/scarsrsn-insight-what-does-the-fbis-ic3-gov-actually-do/) - [Did The FBI on IC3.gov Ignore Your Crime Victims’ Rights? (romancescamsnow.com)](https://romancescamsnow.com/dating-scams/did-the-fbi-on-ic3-gov-ignore-your-crime-victims-rights/)