ScamsNOW!

The SCARS Institute Magazine about Scam Victims-Survivors, Scams, Fraud & Cybercrime

2025 SCARS Institute 11 Years of Service

Dear Police Officers: Write An Email

Make The Extra Effort For Your Transnational Scam/Fraud Victims

By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

Attention Police Officers & Leadership Concerned With Fraud

As a local police officer, you probably never considered this, but YOU CAN send a local victim’s complaint to police agencies in other countries on behalf of your local victims!

After a scam victim comes in to report a case of a cybercrime or financial fraud, and if you see that there was a nexus in a specific country, all you need to do is send an email to that country’s police. Yes, that simple! You might have to do a little investigating to find out who, and you can also send an email requesting support from your counsel general in that country, but it is not that hard! In fact, it would typically take 30 minutes to do it!

A few emails and you actually could extend the police investigation for the benefit of your local victims! And the fact is, for example in the case of Nigeria, that the EFCC will not only investigate but arrest and convict based on the evidence you can provide. Same for Ghana, and elsewhere!

Yes, there will be cases where the police on the opposite end will ask for things to pass through diplomatic channels, but at least you tried!

Even more surprising, again in the case of Nigeria, when the request has come from law enforcement, often the criminals when convicted are ordered to pay restitution to the victim!

Even if your information is very incomplete, the police agency on the other end can use this information to target a criminal and they will gather their own evidence – sometimes just a name or receiving bank account is enough. Sometimes all it takes is a phone number.

In a surprising number of cases, you can find the corresponding police officers or agency leadership right on LinkedIn – you can use that platform to connect with local law enforcement/police around the world, without the need for diplomates or bureaucracy getting in the way. Just send them the victim’s statement and any information you have and more often than not, they will make the effort to help you!

Instead of telling a victim that there is nothing you can do, make the extra effort to see if you can send the information to your corresponding police agency where the cybercriminal resides and received the money! This will make a world of difference to the victims, and you will know that you were able to make a difference regardless of the outcome! In fact, police agencies in other countries often consider it a privilege to collaborate with law enforcement in the United States and elsewhere – this is something you can leverage to help a victim bring a criminal to justice!

In some cases, yes, you will have to request that it be forwarded through the FBI (etc.) but that is just a phone call or two.

On behalf of your victims, make the extra effort! You can do this. If just one case is investigated by the agency on the opposite end and it results in a conviction then it was worth the effort.

Your victims will appreciate your extra effort! And you can close the case knowing that you passed it along to an agency that may take action!

Please do this for all of the victims in your community seeking justice!

Learn more about these crimes on RomanceScamsNOW.com

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Important Information for New Scam Victims

Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
SCARS Institute now offers a free recovery program at www.SCARSeducation.org
Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery

If you are looking for local trauma counselors, please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org

If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines

Statement About Victim Blaming

Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and not to blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and help victims avoid scams in the future. At times, this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims; we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.

These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens, and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.

Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org

SCARS INSTITUTE RESOURCES:

IF YOU HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED BY A SCAM OR CYBERCRIME

♦ If you are a victim of scams, go to www.ScamVictimsSupport.org for real knowledge and help

♦ Enroll in SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org

♦ To report criminals, visit https://reporting.AgainstScams.org – we will NEVER give your data to money recovery companies like some do!

♦ Sign up for our free support & recovery help by https://support.AgainstScams.org

♦ Join our WhatsApp Chat Group at: https://chat.whatsapp.com/BPDSYlkdHBbDBg8gfTGb02

♦ Follow us on X: https://x.com/RomanceScamsNow

♦ Follow us and find our podcasts, webinars, and helpful videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RomancescamsNowcom

♦ SCARS Institute Songs for Victim-Survivors: https://www.youtube.com/playlist…

♦ See SCARS Institute Scam Victim Self-Help Books at https://shop.AgainstScams.org

♦ Learn about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org

♦ Dig deeper into the reality of scams, fraud, and cybercrime at www.ScamsNOW.com and www.RomanceScamsNOW.com

♦ Scam Survivor’s Stories: www.ScamSurvivorStories.org

♦ For Scam Victim Advocates visit www.ScamVictimsAdvocates.org

♦ See more scammer photos on www.ScammerPhotos.com

You can also find the SCARS Institute on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and TruthSocial

Psychology Disclaimer:

All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only

The information provided in this and other SCARS articles are intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.

Note about Mindfulness: Mindfulness practices have the potential to create psychological distress for some individuals. Please consult a mental health professional or experienced meditation instructor for guidance should you encounter difficulties.

While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.

Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.

If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.

Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here

If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair, please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.

A Question of Trust

At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish. Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors’ experience. You can do Google searches, but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.

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