• RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY Archives

Scam Victim Empathy – How It Is Lost And How It Comes Back In Time – Recovery Psychology 2023

Scam Victim Empathy How It Is Lost And How It Comes Back In Time Recovery Psychology Authors: • Vianey Gonzalez – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Most Scam Victims Lose Their Empathy When Trauma Sets In – Usually Immediately Following The End Of The Scam/Fraud But it does come back in time! Empathy is an elusive thing for scam victims. Right Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-11-27T23:28:20-05:00November 27th, 2023|Categories: • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023, Tim McGuinness Ph.D., Vianey Gonzalez|Tags: Empathy, Lost Empathy, Recovery Psychology, Scam Victim Empathy, Scam Victim Recovery|

Fear Of Contagion: Why Scam Victims Are Harshly Judged And Blamed 2023

Fear Of Contagion: Why Scam Victims Are Harshly Judged And Blamed Helping Both Victims and Families or Friends to Better Understand Author: • Vianey Gonzalez – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Fear Of Contagion – The Hidden Fear of Crime Victims: How Nonvictims Engage In Denial, Projection, And Extreme Judgmentalism Against Scam Victims After a scam, victims experience a unique reaction based Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-11-26T17:26:22-05:00November 26th, 2023|Categories: • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • PYSCHOLOGY OF SCAMS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023, Tim McGuinness Ph.D., Vianey Gonzalez|Tags: Fear Of Contagion, Judgment, Scam Victims, Victim Blame, Victim Judging|

Pride – A Dual Edged Sword For Scam Victims 2023

Pride – A Dual-Edged Sword For Scam Victims Author: • Vianey Gonzalez – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Pride And Shame Can Be Considered Two Sides Of The Same Coin For Scam Victims Individuals who had great pride in their achievements, success, stability, and even wealth before a scam may experience significant shame and self-doubt when they are no longer able Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-11-24T03:04:27-05:00November 24th, 2023|Categories: • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023, Tim McGuinness Ph.D., Vianey Gonzalez|Tags: Adaptive Pride, Maladaptive Pride, Pride, Recovery Psychology, Scam Victims, Shame, Victim Recovery|

Selective Amnesia and Scam Victim Psychological Trauma 2023

Selective Amnesia and Scam Victim Psychological Trauma 2023 Author: • Vianey Gonzalez – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Selective Amnesia Can Be Caused By Emotional or Psychological Trauma! Selective amnesia is a type of memory loss where specific events or experiences are forgotten while others are retained. This type of amnesia is often a coping mechanism to protect the individual from Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-11-23T19:25:51-05:00November 23rd, 2023|Categories: • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023, Tim McGuinness Ph.D., Vianey Gonzalez|Tags: Emotional Trauma, Memory, Psychological Trauma, Recovery Psychology, Selective Amnesia|

Toxic Self-Narratives That Feeds Depression in Scam Victims 2023

Toxic Self-Narratives That Feed Depression in Scam Victims Author: • Vianey Gonzalez – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Toxic Self-Narratives Can Profoundly Affect Scam Victims How It Manifests, The Damage It Can Do, How To Recognize It, And Ways To Reduce Or Control It Toxic self-narratives are prevalent in the aftermath of a scam, often amplifying the emotional distress and spiraling Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-11-19T14:34:43-05:00November 19th, 2023|Categories: • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023, Tim McGuinness Ph.D., Vianey Gonzalez|Tags: Emotional Recovery, Negative Thoughts, Recovery Psychology, Rumination, Toxic Self-Narratives|

Psychological Triggers/Emotional Triggers – What They Are And How They Work – 2023/2024

Psychological Triggers/Emotional Triggers – What They Are And How They Work SCARS Recovery Psychology Author: • Vianey Gonzalez – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. What Are Psychological Triggers or Emotional Triggers? Why Do They Have So Much Control Over Our Emotions And Mind? A psychological trigger is a stimulus that elicits or provokes a strong emotional or psychological response. Psychological triggers Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-11-08T15:47:16-05:00November 8th, 2023|Categories: • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♣ VICTIM TRAUMA GRIEF SUPPORT & RECOVERY, 2023, Tim McGuinness Ph.D., Vianey Gonzalez|Tags: Amygdala Hijack, Emotional Triggers, Manipulation, Psychological Triggers, Recovery Psychology, Trauma Responses|

PTSD And Complex PTSD – The Difference Between Them – 2023

PTSD And Complex PTSD – The Difference Between Them Authors: • Vianey Gonzalez – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Understanding the Scam Victim’s Challenges Navigating the Differences Between PTSD and Complex PTSD Scam victims face intricate nuances in their trauma, by shedding light on the contrasting impacts of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) we hope to Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-11-06T10:36:55-05:00November 6th, 2023|Categories: • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023, Tim McGuinness Ph.D., Vianey Gonzalez|Tags: C-PTSD, Complex Grief, Complex PTSD, PTSD, Recovery Psychology, Scam Victims, Victim Recovery|

PTSD and Complex Grief/Complicated Grief – What Are The Differences? 2023

PTSD and Complex Grief – What Are The Differences? Authors: • Vianey Gonzalez – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. PTSD and Complex Grief/Complicated Grief: The Two Main Disorders That Often Confuse Scam Survivors And That Affect Scam Victims (Not Including Anxiety Or Depression) These two main disorders are PTSD and Complex Grief. Scam victims can easily develop one or the other. Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-11-04T11:03:32-04:00November 4th, 2023|Categories: • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, ♣ VICTIM TRAUMA GRIEF SUPPORT & RECOVERY, 2023, Tim McGuinness Ph.D., Vianey Gonzalez|Tags: Complex Grief, Complicated Grief, Grief, Ment Disorder, Mental Condition, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, Trauma|

Mental Compartmentalization And Recovery For Scam Victims 2023

Mental Compartmentalization And Recovery For Scam Victims Authors: • Vianey Gonzalez – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Mental Compartmentalization Hinders Recovery For Emotional Or Psychological Trauma Mental compartmentalization is something we all do, however, when it is done by scam victims to avoid painful emotions or to acknowledge trauma, it prevents healing and it can have significant negative effects. It can Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-10-29T19:19:00-04:00October 29th, 2023|Categories: • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023, Tim McGuinness Ph.D., Vianey Gonzalez|Tags: Avoidance Mechanism, Emotional Compartmentalization, Mental Compartmentalization, Negative Coping Mechanism, Recovery Psychology, Scam Victims, Trauma, Victim Recovery|

Filling The Victim Void After The Fake Relationship Is Gone 2023

Filling The Victim Void After The Fake Relationship Is Gone Authors: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Vianey Gonzalez – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. How To Fill The Victim Void In Your Life After A Romance Scam Ends When a romance scam ends, it can leave a huge void in the victim’s life. The victim may have spent a lot of time and invested a Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-10-18T20:00:39-04:00October 18th, 2023|Categories: • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023, Tim McGuinness Ph.D., Vianey Gonzalez|Tags: Relationship Scams, Romance Scams, Scam Victims, Victim Void|

Secrets Can Be Deadly For Scam Victims – Scam Victim Recovery Psychology

Secrets Can Be Deadly For Scam Victims – Scam Victim Recovery Psychology Authors: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Vianey Gonzalez – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Unmasking the Burden of Secrecy: How Keeping Secrets Deepens the Trauma for Scam Victims The experience of falling victim to a scam can be profoundly traumatic. Scam victims often grapple with a wide range of emotions, from anger and Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-10-16T19:48:39-04:00October 16th, 2023|Categories: • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023, Tim McGuinness Ph.D., Vianey Gonzalez|Tags: Recovery Psychology, Scam Victim, Scams, Secrets|

Do Scam Victims Become Cynics After Their Scam Experience? 2023

Do Scam Victims Become Cynics After Their Scam Experience? Authors: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Vianey Gonzalez – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Experiencing A Major Scam Firsthand Changes Scam Victim’s World Views Profoundly! What is Cynicism? Cynicism is a general distrust of human sincerity and motives. It is the belief that people are generally motivated by self-interest and that there is no such thing Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-10-09T10:40:42-04:00October 8th, 2023|Categories: • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023, Tim McGuinness Ph.D., Vianey Gonzalez|Tags: Cynic, Cynical, Cynicism, Realism, Realists, Scam Victims|

Conformity & Romance Scams And How It Affects Scam Victims 2023

Conformity & Romance Scams And How It Affects Scam Victims By: • Vianey Gonzalez – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. One Of The Types Of Manipulation You Experienced Was Of Your Own Making! But Was Still Not Your Fault! Conformity is the act of changing your behaviors in order to fit in or go along with the people around you. Conformity Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-10-05T20:05:13-04:00October 5th, 2023|Categories: • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • PYSCHOLOGY OF SCAMS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023, Tim McGuinness Ph.D., Vianey Gonzalez|Tags: Affects Scam Victims, Conformity, Fraud Victims, Romance Scams, Scam Victims|

Relationship Scams And Their Impact On Memory

Relationship Scams And Their Impact On Memory By: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Vianey Gonzalez – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Memory And Your Recollections Of A Relationship Scam Can Be Wrong! The very first thing to know about memory after you have been in a relationship scam is that trauma has a profound impact on your mind. You are not what you think you are. You are a Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-10-04T10:38:30-04:00September 25th, 2023|Categories: ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • PYSCHOLOGY OF SCAMS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, 2023, Tim McGuinness Ph.D., Vianey Gonzalez|Tags: Brain Functions, Distorted Memories, False Memories, Grief, Memory, Relationship Scams, The Brain, Trauma|

Contractualism and Supporting the Victims of Online Crime

Contractualism By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Civilization Only Exists Because Of The Commitments That Bind Us All Together – This Is The Foundation Of Contractualism! Who cares about Contractualism philosophy after you have been scammed? Does it help you recover or get your money back? Actually, it does, it is the foundation of how we live and work together! That is what Contractualism is all about and why understanding it is so very important! Most of you reading this Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-09-26T21:20:49-04:00September 23rd, 2023|Categories: ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • SCAM / FRAUD VICTIM SUPPORT & RECOVERY, 2023, Tim McGuinness Ph.D.|Tags: Contractualism, Crime Victim Support, Moral Philosophy, Scam Victims, Support Groups, T. M. Scanlon|

A Temporoparietal Junction (RTPJ/LTPJ) Theory Of Relationship Scams

A Temporoparietal Junction (RTPJ/LTPJ) Theory Of Relationship Scams By: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Vianey Gonzalez – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Does The Right And Left Temporoparietal Junction (RTPJ/LTPJ) Of The Human Brain Play A Role In Believing Narratives Or Stories Communicated To Scam Victims By Criminals In Trust-Based Relationship Scams Or Fraud? Please Note: This article about the right and left temporoparietal junction is for educational purposes Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-09-20T01:44:21-04:00September 20th, 2023|Categories: ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • PYSCHOLOGY OF SCAMS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, 2023|Tags: Amygdala Hijack, Grief Processing, RTPJ/LTPJ, Temporo-Parietal Junction, Temporoparietal Junction, Theory|

Labeling Theory & What It Means For Victims Of Scams

Labeling Theory & What It Means For Victims Of Scams Authors: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Vianey Gonzalez – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. The Double Victimization of Scam Victims: How Labeling Theory Can Explain the Stigma and Discrimination They Face Labeling Theory, specifically labels can have an impact on anyone, but especially for scam victims/survivors. How they see themselves directly affects their chances for Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-10-10T14:50:57-04:00September 17th, 2023|Categories: ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • VICTIMS & VICTIMOLOGY, 2023|Tags: Criminals, Criminology, Labeling Theory, Scam Victims, Scammers, Victimology|

The Self-Pity Trap & How To Overcome It

The Self-Pity Trap & How To Overcome It By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Self-Pity And Being The Victim Of A Scam Or Fraud – It Can Be A Very Distressing Experience It can be difficult to come to terms with the fact that someone has taken advantage of you, and it is normal to feel a range of emotions, including anger, sadness, and embarrassment. However, if you find yourself dwelling on your negative emotions and feeling sorry for yourself, Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-09-16T03:08:29-04:00September 16th, 2023|Categories: ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, 2023|Tags: Negative Coping Mechanisms, Negative Thoughts, Pity, Recovery Psychology, Scam Victims, Self-Pity, Victim Recovery|

Hope & The “Pig Pen” Syndrome

Hope & The “Pig Pen” Syndrome – on ScamsNOW.com A Different Take On The Happenstance Of Scams By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. – Originally published on RomanceScamsNOW.com September 2018 – moved and updated 2023 Was It All About Hope? For Many Scam Victims, Was Just Bad Luck That They Were Scammed? “Shit Happens” Is The Old Saying! Sometimes it happens a lot and doesn’t stop. Is it bad luck? Did you ever think you might be making impulsive decisions? Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-09-15T22:45:12-04:00September 15th, 2023|Categories: • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, ♦ SOURCE, 2018, 2023, From RomanceScamsNOW.com|

Counseling And Your Native Language

Counseling And Your Native Language By SCARS Editorial Team Why Is It Important When Receiving Psychological Counseling Or Therapy In Your Native Language? It is important that when receiving psychological counseling or therapy that it is in your native language. This is because language is not just a way of communicating, it is also a way of thinking and feeling. When you speak your native language, you are able to express yourself more fully and accurately. You are also able to connect with the therapist on a deeper level. When you Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-09-07T23:47:12-04:00September 7th, 2023|Categories: ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, 2023|Tags: Counseling, Native Language, Scam Victims, Therapy, Victim Trauma|

Scam Victims And The Reactivity Loop

Scam Victims And The Reactivity Loop By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Reactivity Loop – How Your Mind Helps To Destroy Itself A psychological ‘reactivity loop’ in traumatized scam victims is a pattern of negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that can develop after being scammed. It is a vicious internal cycle that can be difficult to let go of and break. Read More …

SCARS Editorial Team2023-09-07T23:51:47-04:00September 7th, 2023|Categories: ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, 2023|Tags: Psychology of Scams, Reactivity Loop, Reactivity Loops, Recovery Psychology, Scam Victims, Victim Recovery|

Projection And Scam Victims

Projection And Scam Victims By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Projection Is A Psychological Defense Mechanism It involves painting one’s own thoughts, views, feelings, and characteristics to someone else instead of seeing what is actually there! With romance or other forms of relationship scams (including pig butchering scams) and their aftermath, psychological projection can play a significant role both during and after the scam. Read More …

SCARS Editorial Team2023-08-12T06:30:16-04:00August 12th, 2023|Categories: • PYSCHOLOGY OF SCAMS, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • VICTIMS & VICTIMOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023|Tags: Projection, Recovery from Scams, Recovery Psychology, Relationship Scams, Scam Victims, Victim Psychology, Victim Recovery|

Abstinence for Scam Victims – A Requirement For Healing

Abstinence for Scam Victims – A Requirement For Healing By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. The Crucial Role of Abstinence for Scam Victims: Navigating the Path to Recovery Introduction to Abstinence The prevalence of scams has risen to alarming levels – of course, scam victims all know that already. Scammers are constantly devising new and sophisticated ways to exploit unsuspecting individuals, leaving their victims emotionally and financially devastated. They are especially out looking for previous victims since they are even Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-08-11T21:19:15-04:00August 11th, 2023|Categories: • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • SCAM/FRAUD VICTIMS, • VICTIMS & VICTIMOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023|Tags: Abstinence, Avoid Dating, Dating Again, Emotional Instability, Emotional Recovery, Online Dating, Recovery, Scam Victims|

Magical Thinking – How Biased & Delusional Thinking Enslaves Scam Victims

How Magical Biased & Delusional Thinking Enslaves Scam Victims By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. The Enchanting Deception: Unraveling How Delusional Thinking Entraps Scam Victims The Shackles of Fantasy (Magical Thinking): In a world filled with the allure of magic and fantasy, it is easy to be captivated by extraordinary promises and grand illusions – this is the root of Magical Thinking. Unfortunately, this same allure can become a dangerous trap, leading individuals into the realm of delusional thinking. In Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-07-22T09:43:13-04:00July 22nd, 2023|Categories: • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • PYSCHOLOGY OF SCAMS, • SCAM / FRAUD VICTIM SUPPORT & RECOVERY, • SCAM/FRAUD VICTIMS, • VICTIMS & VICTIMOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023|Tags: Cognitive Bias, Delusional Thinking, Magical Thinking, Psychology of Scams, Victim Recovery|

What Really Are Vulnerabilities That Lead To Scams?

What Really Are Vulnerabilities That Lead To Scams? By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. What Are Victim Vulnerabilities And What Do We Mean By Them? We often talk about victim vulnerabilities as though they magically explain everything about why people are victimized by scams & financial fraud. But what are they really? The purpose of this article is to help all scam victims and their families and friends to understand that vulnerabilities can be varied, that many are just part Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-07-19T13:24:29-04:00July 19th, 2023|Categories: • PYSCHOLOGY OF SCAMS, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • SCAM / FRAUD VICTIM SUPPORT & RECOVERY, • VICTIMS & VICTIMOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023|Tags: Psychology of Scams, Victim Vulnerabilities, Victimology, Vulnerabilities, Vulnerable|

Three Components Of Well Managed Victim Support Groups – SCARS Support Group Handbook Part 1

Three Components Of Well Managed Victim Support Groups Part 1 of the SCARS Official Handbook for Scam Victim Support & Recovery Groups By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. In The Creation And Management Of Victim Support Groups To Help Traumatized Scam Victims There Are A Range Of Required Components In this series of articles about victim support groups we will explore what those components are, the application of best practices, and how best to support victims through to stability and Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-07-12T05:06:50-04:00July 12th, 2023|Categories: • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • SCAM / FRAUD VICTIM SUPPORT & RECOVERY, • SCAM/FRAUD VICTIMS, • VICTIMS & VICTIMOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023|Tags: Camaraderie, Creating a Support Group, Directed education, SCARS Handbook, Social interaction, Support Groups, Support Management, Victim Support|

Changes In A Scam Victim’s Life

Changes In A Scam Victim’s Life By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. After A Scam Or Crime Is Over, Its Victims Are Left To Figure Out How To Go Forward And What Changes Need To Be Made In Their Life! Scam victim changes come at every stage of the post-crime recovery. They vary from stage to stage as the person goes from being a victim to a survivor to a thrive! At each stage, different changes are needed both for Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-07-11T17:45:30-04:00July 11th, 2023|Categories: • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • SCAM / FRAUD VICTIM SUPPORT & RECOVERY, • VICTIMS & VICTIMOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023|Tags: Behavioral Changes, Crime Victim, Fraud Victim, Life Changes, Procedural Changes, Psychological Changes, Scam Victim, Social Changes|

Scam Victims Use Work To Avoid Healing

Scam Victims Use Work To Avoid Healing By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. When Scam Victims Throw Themselves Into Their Work After A Scam It Can Be To Avoid Confronting What Has Happened To Them When scam victims experience trauma, it can have a profound impact on their emotional well-being and daily lives. In some cases, trauma survivors may immerse themselves deeply in their work as a coping mechanism to avoid thinking or feeling the pain associated with their traumatic Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-07-09T23:31:35-04:00July 9th, 2023|Categories: • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • VICTIMS & VICTIMOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023|Tags: Avoidance Mechanism, Coping Mechanism, Overworking, Scam Victims, Trauma|

The Scout Mindset And Scam Victims

The Scout Mindset And Scam Victims By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. A Curious Case Of Opposing Mindsets: Scout Mindset & Soldier Mindset What Is The “Scout Mindset” The scout mindset is a way of thinking that emphasizes curiosity, unbiased truth-seeking, and facing reality, even if that reality is unexpected. In the context of scam victims/survivors, we call these “realists.” It is the opposite of the “soldier mindset”, which is a natural tendency to use motivated (biased) reasoning to defend Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-07-08T18:58:55-04:00July 8th, 2023|Categories: • VICTIMS & VICTIMOLOGY, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • PYSCHOLOGY OF SCAMS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • SCAM / FRAUD VICTIM SUPPORT & RECOVERY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023|Tags: Cognitive Bias, Confirmation Bias, Explorer Mindset, Scam Victim Mindsets, Scout Mindset, Soldier Mindset|

Scam Victim Resiliency – Why It Is So Much Worse After The Scam

Scam Victim Resiliency – Why It Is So Much Worse After The Scam By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Resiliency After The Scam Is Over Is Rarely What Victims Think It Is! Before we can explore what resiliency is for scam survivors after the crime is over, we first have to explore what resiliency is. What Is Emotional Resiliency? Emotional resilience is the ability to adapt to and recover from difficult or challenging experiences. It is a dynamic process that Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-07-07T17:27:00-04:00July 7th, 2023|Categories: • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • PYSCHOLOGY OF SCAMS, • SCAM/FRAUD VICTIMS, • VICTIMS & VICTIMOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023|Tags: Psychology of Scams, Recovery Psychology, Relationship Scams, Resiliency, Scam Victim, Tim McGuinness Ph.D.|

Thoughts About Boundaries

Thoughts About Boundaries By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Boundaries & No Self Limits – A Leading Cause Of Scams What Are Boundaries and Why Do YOU Need Them? Boundaries are imaginary lines that separate us from each other. It separates your physical space, your feelings, needs, and responsibilities from others. Your boundaries also tell other people how they can treat you – what’s acceptable and what isn’t. Without boundaries, people may take advantage of you because you haven’t set Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-07-04T02:26:49-04:00July 4th, 2023|Categories: • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • PYSCHOLOGY OF SCAMS, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023|Tags: Boundaries, Psychology of Scams, Recovery Psychology, Victim Self-Help|

Scam Victim’s Sacred Beliefs & Their Brain

Scam Victim’s Sacred Beliefs & Their Brain An Essay About Scammer Manipulation & Victim Recovery By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Sacred Beliefs & The Brain In A Very Real Sense, A Relationship Scam Is A Full-on Attack On Your Sacred Beliefs! When we refer to “sacred beliefs” in this article, we are referring to a victim’s closely held core beliefs, not to their religious beliefs. The Brain & Sacred Beliefs Read More …

SCARS Editorial Team2023-09-23T06:39:18-04:00July 2nd, 2023|Categories: • PYSCHOLOGY OF SCAMS, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • VICTIMS & VICTIMOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023|Tags: Belief System, Brain, Core Beliefs, Identity Crisis, Sacred Beliefs, Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex, vMPFC|

The Tao – The Philosophy of the Path to Recovery

The Tao – The Philosophy of the Path to Recovery By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Tao – This is the Way A relationship scam is a vicious crime that has the potential not only to be devastatingly traumatic but can almost destroy the very soul of its victims. The Tao – the way – offers an approach to recover from the crime and the devastation to the self that the scam inflicts. Read More …

SCARS Editorial Team2023-06-30T22:04:53-04:00June 30th, 2023|Categories: • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • VICTIMS & VICTIMOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023|Tags: Pathway, Philosophy, Tao, Taoism, The Road to Recovery, This is the Way, Victim Recovery|

Taol – Native American Talking Circles – A Perfect Recovery Model For Scam Victims

Taol – Native American Talking Circles – A Perfect Recovery Model For Scam Victims By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. Taol – The Native American Talking Circle And How We Apply It In Your Recovery! Taol – A reprint from a Native People’s Conferrence “Taol, or traditional talking circles, is a traditional Native American practice that SCARS uses to help traumatized crime victims recover,” according to what I presented in a recent conference. “Taol is a safe space where victims Read More ...

SCARS Editorial Team2023-06-30T20:01:19-04:00June 29th, 2023|Categories: • RECOVERY PSYCHOLOGY, • ARTICLES & REPORTS, • VICTIMS & VICTIMOLOGY, ♣ FEATURED ARTICLES, 2023|Tags: peer-to-peer support groups, Recovery Model, Relationship Scams, Scam Victims, Support Group, Taol|

FTC Victim Predators

Attn: Federal Trade Commission

There is a WAR going on against scam victims!

A war where for-profit companies are exploiting and deceiving the victims of scams and financial fraud!

WE ASK THE FTC TO STOP EXPLOITATION OF SCAM VICTIMS NOW!

This war is being led by predatory for-profit companies that want more of these desperate and panicked crime victims\' money or to lead them away from legitimate support!

These companies claim they can get the victim\'s money back or that they will investigate the crime and have the criminals arrested - neither they can do. The victim usually receives a document or two and nothing more for the thousands of dollars they pay in advance for these services. Services that within the United States these companies must be licensed as private investigators to even provide any crime investigations or money recovery services, yet almost all of these companies lack state licenses.

There are cryptocurrency tracing companies that use automated tools to generate a paper report and charging scam victims thousands of dollars in advance for this service! These victims are desperate for help and looking for answers, and instead of sending them to real victims\' assistance providers they are pulling them in and costing them more of the precious little money they have left! What the scammers do is bad enough, but these real companies are exploiting victims one more time!

We call on the Federal Trade Commission to begin exploring this exploitation of crime victims - specifically scam or financial fraud victims by private investigating, money recovery, and other for-profit companies service companies!

We believe that this falls under the Commission\'s authority to regulate deceptive trade practices.

This is despicable and deceptive trade practice that should be banned in the United States without proper state licensing and full and complete disclosure about what they can and cannot do. We also believe the companies and their principals operating without proper legal licenses now should be banned from these activities permanently.

Please do what YOU can to bring this to the attention of the FTC Chair and staff!

Thank you!

Vianey Goes and Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., Directors,
Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
A crime victims\' assistance & crime prevention nonprofit supporting scam victims worldwide for free!
contact@againstscams.org

**your signature**