New Victim Support Basics

How to Evaluate Your Own Mental Health After a Scam

How to Evaluate Your Own Mental Health After a Scam After a scam, you protect your safety and rebuild stability by evaluating your mental health, recognizing signs like betrayal trauma, dissociation, and brain fog, and choosing clear next steps. Key Topics: Understanding Betrayal Trauma Basics Recognizing Dissociation & Its Impact Assessing Cognitive Dysfunction - How You Think You Are Thinking Awareness of Other Potential Disorders Moving Forward with Self-Compassion After the Scam Ends, Your Mind is in Turmoil About 97% of Scam Victims Suffer from Betrayal Trauma - You are Not Alone Please Note: This is to help you understand your mental health. Experiencing trauma does not mean you are crazy or mentally ill. It means you have experienced something terrible and have been injured. The only goal should be to heal. A Compassionate Guide to Evaluating Your Mental Health After a Scam You've taken a courageous step by exploring how a scam may have impacted your mental health. Being scammed isn't just a financial hit; it can shake your sense of trust and stability. This brief guide helps you assess your well-being, focusing on betrayal trauma, dissociation, cognitive dysfunction, and other potential challenges. We'll use simple questions and tips to reflect on your experiences in a safe, non-judgmental way. You're not alone, and healing is possible. Let's begin. Understanding Betrayal Trauma Betrayal trauma often hits hardest after a scam, especially when someone you trusted, like in a romantic partner or investment advisor, turns out to be deceptive. It is a betrayal of your trust, and it hits hard, harder than you could have imagined. It feels like a personal violation, an act of violence, as if the ground beneath you has shifted. You might feel angry at the scammer, frustrated with yourself, or struggle to trust others. Physical signs can include restlessness, headaches, or a tight feeling in your chest. To check if betrayal trauma is affecting you, ask yourself these questions: Are you finding it hard to believe in people's good intentions? Have you pulled back from friends or family out of Read More ...

SCARS Support Team2025-08-15T05:09:32-04:00Categories: New Victim Support Basics|Tags: Mental Health, Scam Victim, Scam Victims|

How to Recognize You are in the Multiple Scam Trap and How to Climb Out

Breaking the Cycle of Repeat Scam Victimization How to Protect Yourself from Being Scammed Again! Understand: repeat victimization happens to many intelligent, capable people, especially after a romance or investment scam. Being scammed once does not mean you are immune to the next time, and it does not mean you are at fault if you are targeted again. Key Topics: A Step-by-Step Recovery Process on How to Avoid Future Scams Why Avoiding Repeat Victimization Is So Difficult Separate the Scammer’s Actions from Your Sense of Self Practice Structured Self-Protection You have been Scammed Multiple Times. Now What Do You Do? About 15% of Scam Victims are Scammers 3 or More Times - You are Not Alone You are Caught in a Multiple Scam Trap. Now Let's Get You Out of It! You have already endured the emotional and financial harm of a scam. The betrayal has left scars that may not be visible, but they are real. You may still be dealing with the shock of realizing the person or relationship you trusted was built on lies. Yet, without noticing it, you might be moving toward another trap. This is not because you are careless or unintelligent. It is because the same vulnerabilities that were exploited once can be exploited again, and the emotional state following the first scam can make you more, not less, susceptible. Many victims of romance scams experience this painful cycle. After losing substantial sums to a scammer, you may be contacted by someone who claims they can help you recover your money, arrest the criminal, or even restore your lost relationship. They may present themselves as a police officer, an investigator, a lawyer, or an insider who knows exactly what happened to you. They speak in ways that match your hope for justice or resolution. This is where the danger grows. Instead of recognizing these new people as potential scammers, you may feel relief that someone finally understands and wants to help. That relief can quickly turn into trust, and trust into another financial loss. The stakes are not Read More ...

SCARS Support Team2025-08-10T03:01:42-04:00Categories: New Victim Support Basics|Tags: Multiple Scam Trap, Scam Victim, Scam Victims|

Forgiving Yourself After Surviving a Romance or Investment Scam

Forgiving Yourself After Surviving a Romance or Investment Scam How to Forgive Yourself After Surviving a Scam! Understand this: everyone can be scammed, and everyone deserves forgiveness Key Topics: A Step-by-Step Recovery Process on How to Forgive Yourself Why Self-Forgiveness Is So Difficult After a Scam Separate the Scam from Your Identity Practice Structured Self-Compassion A Step-by-Step Recovery Process: How to Forgive Yourself After Surviving a Relationship or Investment Scam Falling for a trust-based scam leaves deep emotional wounds that go beyond financial loss. Romance scams and investment cons often depend on emotional connection, personal trust, or the belief that you were building something real with another person. Scammers create false relationships, carefully designed to lower your defenses and exploit your hopes. When that illusion collapses, the damage cuts through more than your bank account. It strikes at your sense of judgment, your confidence, and often your identity itself. After this kind of betrayal, self-blame becomes almost automatic. You may tell yourself you should have known better or believe the lie that you were weak or naïve. Shame sets in quickly, making you question your intelligence, your ability to judge character, or even your worth as a person. These feelings do not just appear temporarily. If left unchecked, they can solidify into distorted beliefs that damage your mental health and trap you in cycles of regret or emotional paralysis. Self-forgiveness is the only way to break that cycle. Forgiving yourself does not mean excusing what happened or pretending the scam was acceptable. It means reclaiming your emotional stability and self-worth. It gives you permission to separate the scam from your identity. When you choose to forgive yourself, you stop allowing the scam to define your future or destroy your confidence. This process is grounded in well-established recovery tools. It draws on trauma psychology, self-compassion research, and proven methods for rebuilding mental and emotional resilience. Learning to forgive yourself is not about false positivity or ignoring reality. It is about facing what happened with honesty, rebuilding your sense of control, and making sure the scam remains Read More ...

SCARS Support Team2025-06-26T08:53:22-04:00Categories: New Victim Support Basics|Tags: Forgive, Forgiveness, Forgiving Yourself, Scam Victim, Scam Victims|

ALERT: Victims Avoid Amateur Support For Your Recovery! 2024

ALERT: Avoid Amateur Support For Your Recovery! Key Topics: Emotional & Psychological Toll on Romance Scams - Including Profound Trauma and Complex Grief - Requires Competent Professional Care Victim Support is a Complex and Professional Practice Certified Professionals in Trauma-Informed Care are essential to Scam Victim Care Finding Trauma Therapy or Counseling are also Important The Critical Role of Professional Scam Victim Support Services Every recent scam victim wants to help others, but the reality is they are mostly not competent to do so Are You Getting Your Support from Amateurs? Almost Every Scam Victim Wants to Help Others! But it does NOT mean they are Competent To Do It! Avoid Putting Your Mind and Your Future in the Hands of Amateurs! It's vital for traumatized scam victims to seek support from certified trauma-informed care professionals during their recovery because these experts have the necessary training and credentials to provide appropriate care. Certified therapists, counselors, psychologists, and victim service providers possess specialized knowledge in dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues that can arise after being scammed. They are equipped to offer science-based services and support helping victims process their experiences and rebuild their sense of security. Working with certified professionals ensures that scam victims receive ethical and confidential care. Certified professionals adhere to strict professional standards and codes of conduct, which protect clients' privacy and ensure their successful recovery is the primary focus. This professionalism creates a safe and supportive environment, crucial for victims to openly discuss their feelings and experiences without fear of judgment with the appropriate educational support to help victims understand why it was not their fault, the impact that betrayal trauma will have on them, how their minds have been injured by these crimes and the overall process of recovery. Additionally, certified professionals can help victims through education recognize and address the complex psychological issues that may arise, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), helping scam victims find the right resources to ensure that victims receive comprehensive and effective support throughout their recovery journey. SCARS is fully Read More ...

SCARS Support Team2024-07-25T20:22:21-04:00Categories: New Victim Support Basics|Tags: Professional Support, Scam Victims, Support & Recovery Program, Victim Recovery|

Introduction To Being A Scam Victim – What Just Happened To You? 2025

What Just Happened to You? Introduction To Being A Scam Victim - How did this Scam happen, How did you become a Scam Victim? Understanding the Scam Victim Reality in the Beginning! Key Topics: What was this crime? How did it happen? Why were you targeted? Understand that it was Not Personal Realizing You Are a Scam Victim: Understanding the Why and How An Introduction to Being a Scam Victim Realizing that you have been scammed can be an incredibly devastating experience. It often comes with a powerful mix of emotions: shock, disbelief, anger, and shame. It's important to remember that scams are designed to deceive, and even the smartest individuals fall victim. Understanding why and how it happened is very important in setting you up to recover. However, first, you need the basic answers to what just happened, how it just happened, and why it happened. Understanding what just happened when someone discovers they have been in a relationship scam is vital for several reasons First, it helps you recognize that you are not at fault, as these scams are designed to exploit emotions and vulnerabilities. This realization is essential for emotional healing, as it can alleviate your feelings of guilt and shame. It will not happen overnight, this is going to be a long bumpy ride. Second, understanding the mechanics of the scam can empower you to take appropriate actions, such as reporting the incident to authorities, ceasing all communication with the scammer, and securing your personal information. Third, it equips you with the knowledge to recognize red flags in future interactions, reducing the risk of falling prey to similar scams again. But understand, that you will always remain vulnerable. Lastly, sharing their experience can raise awareness and potentially help others avoid falling into the same trap, contributing to a broader effort to combat these deceptive practices. What Just Happened? You have just discovered that you are the victim of financial fraud (a scam). Perhaps you are not yet certain? Trust us, if you have suspicions, then you were scammed. That Read More ...

SCARS Support Team2025-06-25T18:47:35-04:00Categories: New Victim Support Basics|Tags: New Victim, Recovering from Scams, Scam Victims, Support & Recovery Program, Victim Recovery|

How Do You Get Closure If You Are A Scam Victim?

How Do You Get Closure If You Are A Scam Victim? Getting Closure is Complicated for Scam Victims - It is All About Acknowledgement, Acceptance, and Forgiveness! An Essential Part of Scam Victim Recovery Key Topics: What is Closure for Scam Victims How to Acknowledge and Accept Forgiveness and Reconciliation Maintaining Your Closure What Does Closure Mean to a Scam Victim? Closure can mean different things for Different People, but for Scam Victims it is all about Forgiveness and Moving Forward! Closure may be what someone needs to move on after a long relationship, after the death of a loved one, after a traumatic childhood event, or to overcome feelings of guilt for hurting someone in the past. What is Psychological Closure? Psychologically, closure refers to the process of coming to terms with a distressing or unresolved situation, allowing individuals to move forward and find resolution. Why is Closure Important? Closure is vitally important for scam victims as it marks a milestone of their healing journey when they finally reclaim control over their lives. The aftermath of a scam leaves every victim grappling with their emotions, from anger and betrayal to shame and self-doubt. Without closure, these unresolved feelings linger, perpetuating a cycle of emotional distress and hindering the process of moving forward. Obtaining closure allows victims to finalize their experiences, and ultimately, let go of the crime and criminals. It provides a sense of resolution and finality, enabling victims to release focus on the crime and focus on rebuilding their lives with newfound strength and resilience. By achieving closure, scam victims can reclaim their full sense of self-worth, restore their trust in others, and embark on a new path into their future. Defining Closure an act of closing : the condition of being closed an often comforting or satisfying sense of finality For someone who has been traumatized by being the victim of a crime, closure involves several psychological processes aimed at integrating the traumatic experience into their personal narrative and restoring a sense of equilibrium and control. Acknowledgment Read More ...

SCARS Support Team2025-06-25T21:05:02-04:00Categories: New Victim Support Basics|Tags: Closure, Recovering from Scams, Scam Victims, Support & Recovery Program, Victim Recovery|

Scam Victims Reporting Scams And Interacting With The Police

Scam Victims Reporting Scams and Interacting with the Police A Checklist of what to do Before Speaking with the Police and While You are Reporting Scams! Helping You Get What Is Possible from the Police and Helping You Consider Your Options! Key Topics: Create a Crime File Write a Crime Summary Know Your Rights Preparing to Go to the Police and Reporting Scams The SCARS Police Interaction Checklist For Reporting Scams It is Vital to Report EVERY Scam Reporting Scams is one of the problems that all scam victims face. They do not know what to say, how to report the information they have, or what is realistic when initially speaking with the police or government agencies. The process of reporting scams is not always easy but it is absolutely necessary. What can make it easier is making sure you are prepared when reporting scams and that your expectations are not unrealistic. The sooner you do this the better because there may be options for recovering your money too! The secret to reporting scams is to go in prepared, have no expectations, give them what they want, and listen carefully. We also recommend that you go in with a support person who can help you to better understand what the police are telling you – you may be very traumatized. In addition, reporting is your way to declaring your innocence if anyone ever questions it. Reporting Scams STEP 1: Create A Crime File After a scam you are shocked and confused, maybe even afraid, so you don’t know how to begin or what to do. The first step is to start collecting the evidence – because that is what it is. It is evidence of a crime, and online crimes are real crimes! This is the basis for reporting scams. DIGITAL FOLDER You will need to create a digital folder on your computer (if you have one.) If this all happened on your phone then you will have to preserve the information in another way. At this stage, you do Read More ...

SCARS Support Team2025-06-25T20:51:04-04:00Categories: New Victim Support Basics|Tags: After the Scam, Local Police, Reporting the Scam, Scam Victim, Scam Victims, Support & Recovery Program|

Every New Scam Victim Needs To Understand What To Do Next!

Every New Scam Victim Needs to Understand What to Do Next! Your Action Plan After Becoming a Scam Victim to Stop the Damage! Understand this: everyone can be scammed, and everyone will be scammed Key Topics: Stop the Bleeding Protecting Your Accounts Mitigate the Scam Damage Protect Yourself for the Future Don’t Get Blindsided as a Scam Victim Your Action Plan After Becoming a Scam Victim to Stop the Damage! First, understand this: everyone can be scammed, and everyone will be scammed – you will become a scam victim at some point! How well you plan and prepare for it will determine how bad it becomes. There are more than 49 million scam victims in the United States alone (as of 2023), and an estimated 100 million worldwide. None of them planned on becoming a victim either, but it happened. Within the next couple of years, every American adult will be the victim of a scam at least once, and sometimes many times. Becoming A Scam Victim Becoming a scam victim can be an emotionally and financially devastating experience. Discovering you’ve fallen victim to a scam is a disheartening and stressful experience, but swift action can help mitigate its impact and prevent further damage. Understanding what steps to take immediately after discovering a scam is crucial in minimizing losses and protecting yourself from future threats. Scam Victim – Where to Begin? The shock, anger, and fear can feel overwhelming, but amidst the chaos, it’s crucial to take swift action to minimize the damage and prevent further harm. Here’s your comprehensive guide to navigating the aftermath of a scam. Stop the Bleeding: Change Your Passwords Immediately: Update your login credentials for every account potentially compromised, including email, bank accounts, social media, and online shopping platforms. Use strong, unique passwords for each account, and enable two/multi-factor authentication. Stop All Transactions: Immediately cease any further transactions, communication, or engagement with the scammer. Freeze or close any compromised accounts. Cut Off All Contact: Immediately cease all communication with the scammer, regardless of their pleas or threats. Block their numbers, emails, and Read More ...

SCARS Support Team2025-06-25T20:48:27-04:00Categories: New Victim Support Basics|Tags: After the Scam, Scam Victim, Scam Victims, Support & Recovery Program, Support Groups|

How Scam Victims Can Maximize Support Groups Benefits

How Scam Victims Can Maximize Support Groups Benefits Staying Focused on Getting the Most from Support Groups makes the difference for New Scam Victims Avoid Support Groups that focus on hostility Key Topics: Choosing the Right Support Provider Factors to Consider Credentials to Look For Getting the Most from the Support Group You Choose Helping Traumatized Scam Victims Better Understand what they need to do to get the Maximum Benefit from Professionally Managed Support Groups Recovering from a scam can be a daunting journey fraught with emotional turmoil and uncertainty, especially in the beginning for scam victims. Everywhere they look, scam victims see thousands of anti-scam groups on social media, all claiming to be experts. Sadly, they simply are not. A. Choosing the Right Support Provider Finding the right support provider is critical for scam victims on their journey to recovery. With countless options available, selecting a provider that meets individual needs and offers credible support is essential. This will help scam victims explore key factors scam victims should consider when choosing a support provider and highlight the credentials to look for. Factors to Consider Specialization Seek support providers who specialize in assisting scam victims. These professionals need to possess a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by individuals affected by scams and can offer tailored assistance. Experience Look for providers with a proven track record of helping scam victims. Experience equips support providers with insights, strategies, and resources to address various aspects of scam recovery effectively. For example, SCARS has had over 12,000 scam survivors successfully pass through its program. Credentials Confirm that the support provider has the certifications and credentials to ensure they possess the necessary qualifications and expertise. Credentials should include certifications in trauma-informed care and related areas and have psychologists on their team. Just saying you know about scams is not enough. Approach Consider the approach and methodology used by individual support providers. Select those who employ evidence-based practices, trauma-informed care, and culturally sensitive approaches to meet diverse needs. Accessibility Assess the accessibility of support Read More ...

SCARS Support Team2025-06-25T21:02:26-04:00Categories: New Victim Support Basics|Tags: Group Benefits, Scam Victims, Support & Recovery Program, Support Groups|

SCARS Institute First 3 Steps For New Scam Victims 2025

SCARS Institute First 3 Steps For New Scam Victims 2025 A Guide for New Scam Victims - What to do to end the Scam Help to End the Scam and Begin Again Key Topics: STEP 1: Stop All Communications! STEP 2: Accept That You Were Scammed STEP 3: Focus Only On Yourself Are You A Scam Victim – Now What? This Is A Very Confusing Time For Scam Victims But We Have The Answers! Your scam has just ended and you will be in shock, confusion, fear, and anger. You will be unsure about what to do now. We have helped millions of scam victims, and we know that it comes down to THREE (3) BASIC STEPS. This is a guide to help new scam victims understand what to do first and how to proceed with recovery! First Thing You need to understand that this was not your fault, and you are not to blame. Do not feel ashamed of what happened. The scammers are professionals – yes scammers, there was more than one – they work in teams. They are expert manipulators, and you were not prepared. Time is important after you discover the scams – there is a limited window for the police to act to help recover your money, depending on how it was sent. Learn more here. Also, if it was a crypto-based scam, your local police can, in very many cases, trace the lost cryptocurrency and recover it. Act now! This is going to be hard, and most victims give up or give in to anger. But if you are willing to do what needs to be done, you can recover from this. Remember that the trauma from a relationship scam is very real and it will not simply go away – you will not just get over it – you will need help. Make sure you get it! When the time comes to talk with your family & friends, click here for how to do that correctly, so they will not blame you. Also, see our videos on our YouTube channel here. Read More ...

SCARS Support Team2025-06-25T18:46:43-04:00Categories: New Victim Support Basics|Tags: Scam Survivors, Scam Victims, SCARS 3 Steps for New Scam Victims, Support & Recovery Program, Support Groups|

SCARS Institute™ Scam Victim’s Support
Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. [SCARS]

Find SCARS™ All Across The Web & Social Media

New Victim Support Basics

SCARS Institute™ Scam Victim’s Support Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. [SCARS]

Find SCARS™ All Across The Web & Social Media

SCARS Institute™ Scam Victim’s Support
Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. [SCARS]