Scam Victims Support Articles

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 ...

Child Online Safety – A Children’s Internet Safety Guide For Parents – 2024

Child Online Safety A Children's Internet Safety Guide For Parents Child online safety awareness is one of the most important things in today's digital world, where children are increasingly exposed to the internet's vast and often unregulated content. By understanding online safety, parents can help children learn to act responsibly and protect themselves from potential dangers such as cyberbullying, sextortion, predators, and inappropriate content. Educating children about the importance of privacy, the risks of sharing personal information, and recognizing suspicious behavior helps them develop critical thinking skills and resilience. Ultimately, raising awareness about online safety empowers parents and children to enjoy the benefits of the internet while safeguarding their well-being. Chatting with Kids About Being Online From the U.S. Department of Homeland Security & the SCARS Institute The Internet Offers a World of Opportunities for Children But it is Not Safe! People of all ages are: posting videos from mobile devices building online profiles texting each other from their mobile devices creating alter egos in the form of online avatars connecting with friends online they don’t see regularly in person sending photos to friends broadcasting what they’re doing to hundreds of people These ways of socializing and communicating can be fulfilling and, yet, they come with certain risks: The online world can feel anonymous. Kids sometimes forget that they are still accountable for their actions. Some people online have bad intentions, including bullies, predators, hackers, and scammers. You may be concerned that your kids could find pornography, violence, or hate speech online. As parents you can reduce these risks by talking to your kids about how they communicate—online and off— and encouraging them to engage in conduct they can be proud of. This guide covers what you need to know, and issues to raise with kids about living their lives online. Talk To Your Kids What is the best way to protect your kids online? Talk to them. Research suggests that when children want important information, most rely on their parents. The Importance of Parental Involvement Read More ...

Introduction To Being A Scam Victim – What Just Happened To You? 2024

What Just Happened to You? Introduction To Being A Scam Victim - How did this Scam happen, how did you become a Scam Victim? Understanding 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. Optional For Scam Victims SCARS WORKBOOK - Blaming Yourself & Feeling Guilty - a Part of the SCARS Recovery Program available on shop.AgainstScams.org What Just Happened? You have just discovered that you are Read More ...

How Do You Get Closure If You Are A Scam Victim? – 2024

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. Optional For Scam Victims SCARS WORKBOOK - Blaming Yourself & Feeling Guilty - a Part of the SCARS Recovery Program available on shop.AgainstScams.org 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 Read More ...

Helping Someone Survive Sextortion/Blackmail – 2024

Helping Someone Survive Image-Based Abuse? You can play an important role in helping a friend or family member survive this experience How to step up if someone shares or threatens to share an intimate image or video of them Sextortion Is A Serious Crime And You Can Help! Regardless of someone's age, individuals, whether young or old, need compassionate support to help them survive this experience since the fact is that not everyone makes it. They need help that acknowledges and validates their feelings and empowers them to take action regarding their situation. By extending a supportive hand and assuring them of your willingness to listen without judgment, you can significantly influence their well-being and help them make it through these challenging circumstances. Your presence and guidance can make a substantial difference in getting started on their journey toward healing and finding the support they need to cope effectively with Sextortion or blackmail, or revenge porn. Need To Talk? Call NOW! 988 Phone Help in the U.S. & Canada Helping to Save a Life is No Small Thing! Yet that is exactly what Sextortion/Intimate Image Abuse Victims Need, Someone to Listen and Support them through this Incredible Betrayal and Abuse Understanding the profound impacts of sextortion or image-based abuse is vitally important in providing support and care to those affected by these crimes. When individuals have their intimate images or videos shared without consent, or worse, to blackmail them, the emotional toll can be devastating and seriously traumatic. Feelings of betrayal, heartbreak, fear, anger, and humiliation often ensue, leaving the victim in a state of profound distress. This experience is compounded by the potential for critical comments or harassment from those who view the content, exacerbating feelings of shame and vulnerability. If left unsupported, the long-term consequences can be profound, affecting one's sense of safety, trust, and self-esteem. Such trauma may lead to feelings of hopelessness, despair, and may even precipitate mental health challenges like depression and self-harm. Please note that helping them to find support Read More ...

Sextortion Support Resources Worldwide – 2024

Sextortion & Image-Based Abuse Resources Find help worldwide and in your country! These organizations help the victims of sextortion, image-based abuse, and revenge porn to obtain support and help. Sextortion & Image-Based Abuse Support Worldwide The following are organizations that provide support for many different types of online abuse, including scams, fraud, cybercrimes, sextortion, revenge porn, etc. Directory updated 5/2024 Image, Video, Content Takedown Services If you’re under 18, you can use takeitdown.ncmec.org – a free online tool that prevents your image or video from being shared on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Yubo, OnlyFans, and Pornhub. If you’re 18 or older, you can use StopNCII.org – a free online tool that prevents your image or video from being shared on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Bumble, OnlyFans, and Reddit. By Country Worldwide SCARS Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams AgainstScams.org A global online crime victims' advocacy, assistance, services, and support provider helping scam/fraud/cybercrime victims worldwide. All services are free, safe, and confidential. For support go to support.AgainstScams.org Austria Safer Internet Austria Promotes online safety and provides advice for those who have experienced image-based abuse or ‘revenge porn’ in Austria. Belgium Institute for the Equality of Women and Men This organization supports people who have had their intimate images shared with advice and anonymous report forms. Bolivia Internet Foundation Bolivia An organization working in the prevention of digital violence and defending the digital rights of Bolivian people. Brazil SafeNet This non-government organization runs the Safer Internet Centre in Brazil and has an online helpline to support people who have experienced online violence. Canada NeedHelpNow.ca  Helps teens in Canada stop the spread of sexual pictures or videos and provides support along the way. Project Shift  A project funded by Status of Women Canada, YWCA Canada, and partners, who are working to create a safer digital world for girls and young women. The Canadian Centre for Child Protection Operates Cybertip.ca, Canada’s tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children. It provides information and support for victims of image-based abuse. The Cybersmile Foundation A multi-award winning anti-cyberbullying not-for-profit organisation, committed to tackling all forms of digital abuse and bullying online. Denmark Read More ...

Copyright Basics – Get Stolen Photos & Videos Removed – 2024

Copyright Basics & Takedowns for Scam Victims When someone posts your photos online you have a Powerful Tool to get them taken down quickly! Forget reporting fakes in the normal way. Get the social media's legal department to remove them! Use the Digital Millennium Copyright Act - it works everywhere and it works fast! If You Had Your Photos or Videos Stolen and Posted by Scammers to Impersonate You or to Use for Blackmail, You Can Get Them Removed Using Copyright Law! Using a fairly simple process called a DMCA Takedown notice the platform or website where the photos appear has no choice but to take them down of face a significant violation of law. Take It Down When it comes to getting your photos taken down you have two approaches. User a Takedown service, which is especially useful for intimate photos, or use copyright. The only problem with copyright is if you do not own or did not create the photos - meaning they were taken or created by someone else. Takedown services are especially for removing nude or intimate photos. Takedown Services If you’re under 18, you can use takeitdown.ncmec.org – a free online tool that prevents your image or video from being shared on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Yubo, OnlyFans, and Pornhub. If you’re 18 or older, you can use StopNCII.org – a free online tool that prevents your image or video from being shared on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Bumble, OnlyFans, and Reddit. What is Copyright Copyright is a legal concept that grants the creators of original works (photos, videos, etc.) exclusive rights to use and distribute their creations. These rights apply to various types of creative works, including literary, artistic, musical, and dramatic works, as well as software, films, and other intellectual property. Copyright protection gives creators the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, and create derivative works based on their original creations. This means that others cannot use or distribute the work without the creator's permission, unless their use falls under certain exceptions or limitations, such as fair use. Even if you shared photos or videos online, they do not have Read More ...

Sextortion Basics – 2024

What is Sextortion? How does it happen and go from a Romantic Relationship to Blackmail? Don't Panic - You Have Options! Here is a guide to help you better understand the crime and what to do about it. Be sure to read all of our guides about sextortion! Sextortion Is A Serious Crime! Sexual extortion or ‘sextortion’ is a form of blackmail where someone threatens to share a nude or sexual image or video of you unless you give in to their demands. If this happens to you, you’re not alone – there’s help available. This may be difficult if you are already in a sextortion scam and are being blackmailed, but you can survive this. Sextortion is a form of online crime where someone threatens to distribute intimate images or videos of another person unless they comply with demands, usually monetary or sexual in nature. Typically, the criminal obtains these materials through coercion, manipulation, or deceit, such as posing as a romantic interest or befriending the victim online. Once they have the compromising material, they use it as leverage to extort from the victim, demanding money, more explicit images, or other favors under the threat of exposing the material to friends, family, or the public. Sextortion can have severe emotional and psychological effects on its victims, leading to feelings of fear, shame, and powerlessness. It is a serious cybercrime that preys on individuals’ vulnerabilities and trust, and it is important for everyone to be aware of the signs and take steps to protect themselves online. If you have already experienced this there are steps you can take. You are not powerless! Need To Talk? Call NOW! 988 Phone Help in the U.S. & Canada Sextortion Basics - What You Need To Know Now! Remember, it’s not your fault, even if you shared the intimate content with the blackmailer in the first place – anyone can experience sextortion. It is not personal for them, it is just business. Blackmailers usually give up when they realize you won’t pay. But if Read More ...

When Sextortion Goes Wrong – When Scammers Post Those Photos – 2024

You Are Being Blackmailed! What Happens When Sextortion Goes Wrong When Scammers Post Those Photos Scammers May Follow Through The criminals want you to be scared and freak out, but hold it together! You can make it through this. We know, we have helped loads before you! The secret to surviving this is to have a good story to help you survive this. Need To Talk? Call NOW! 988 Phone Help in the U.S. & Canada We Have Discussed Sextortion Before – But Here Is How To Deal With The Photos After They Are Posted Just Remember You Are Not Alone This is happening to literally millions of others just like you! It's you right now, but it will be someone else a minute from now. This is how it works. Millions of victims means that most of them are getting through this just fine. It is a hassle, it is painful, but they survived it and so can you. But what if you can't make it through this? It's ok to be fearful and traumatized - that is actually what the scammers are counting on. It is ok to be hurt and angry and confused. They hope that the more betrayed and panicked you are the more easily they can get money from you. This just means you need some help. What To Do if You’re the Target of Sextortion/Revenge Porn! Did a criminal or someone else share an intimate image of you without your permission? Or was a nude picture taken without your consent, or maybe an image you shared with someone was shared further than you’d intended? Such as in a sextortion scam? This is a crime! If so, you’re not alone. Millions have been scammed (or attempted) - people are affected by so-called sextortion or revenge porn or non-consensual pornography every year. If that’s happened to you or someone you know, here’s information to help you decide what to do. Difference between Sextortion and Revenge Porn 1. Revenge Porn Revenge porn refers to the Read More ...

Surviving Sextortion / Sexual Photo Blackmail – 2024

Surviving Sextortion / Sexual Photo Blackmail Sextortion Uses Explicit Photos Taken From The Victim How to Survive when Scammers Post those Photos What to do when Scammers Follow Through The criminals want you to be scared and freak out, but hold it together! You can make it through this. We know, we have helped loads before you! The secret to surviving this is to have a good story to help you survive this. Need To Talk? Call NOW! 988 Phone Help in the U.S. & Canada Sextortion uses Explicit Photos either Provided Willingly or by Other Means (such as Hacking) to use them against the Victim Sextortion Comes In Two Basic Flavors: Coercion Or Monetary Blackmail Sextortion As Coercion Sextortion is a form of sexual exploitation that employs non-physical forms of coercion to extort sexual or other favors from the victim. Sextortion (on Wikipedia) refers to the broad category of sexual exploitation in which abuse of power is the means of coercion, as well as to the category of sexual exploitation in which threatened release of sexual images or information is the means of coercion. Sextortion As Blackmail Sextortion also refers to a form of blackmail or extortion in which sexual information or images are used to extort money from the victim. Social media and text messages are often the source of the sexual material and the threatened means of sharing it with others. An example of this type of sextortion is where people are extorted with a nude image of themselves they shared on the Internet through sexting or during a romance scam. They are later (usually) blackmailed for money or something of monetary value. Sextortion can be part of  Romance Scams After a basic romance scam is completed by the victims discovering the truth or when they stop paying, the scammers frequently will turn to sextortion as a means of obtaining more money. Most romance scammers will try some form of follow-on scam if they are able, either blackmail (which can include disclosure to friends and family), Read More ...