Scam Victim Recovery Insights
From the SCARS Institute
Axioms for Your Recovery
Things to remember in those darkest moments.
– – – – – – – – – –
1. Your grief is for a future that was stolen, not just for a person who never existed. Allow yourself to mourn it.
2. The shame you feel is a tool the scammer left behind; it is not a reflection of your worth or intelligence.
3. You were not a fool; you were a target of a sophisticated, predatory crime.
4. Your ability to trust and love is not a weakness to be exploited, but a strength to be protected.
5. You do not need to justify your pain to anyone who has not walked in your shoes.
6. Healing is not a race, and your timeline is the only one that matters.
7. The emptiness you feel does not need to be filled with something new; it needs to be acknowledged and held with compassion.
8. You are not defined by the worst thing that happened to you.
9. Forgiveness for yourself is not about condoning what happened; it is about releasing the weight of self-blame so you can move forward.
10. Your intuition was not broken; it was deliberately overridden by skilled manipulation.
11. You are not alone, even when it feels like no one understands.
12. Rebuilding trust in yourself starts with making one small, healthy decision at a time.
13. The money you lost is a loss, but the lessons you gain are a treasure you will keep forever.
14. You have the right to set boundaries to protect your peace, even with the people who love you.
15. Your story is powerful, but you get to decide who is worthy of hearing it.
16. The person you were before the scam is still in there, waiting for you to find them again.
17. You will love and be loved again, but first you must learn to love the person you are now.
18. Every survivor you meet is a mirror, reflecting both your pain and your incredible capacity for resilience.
19. You are not responsible for the scammer’s actions, but you are responsible for your healing.
20. Patience with your recovery is the greatest act of self-love you can practice right now.
21. The fantasy was the lie; your strength to survive the truth is what is real.
22. You are allowed to be angry. Let the anger be the fuel that drives you toward your healing, not the anchor that holds you in place.
23. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness; it is a declaration of your will to survive.
24. The world is not as dangerous as your trauma makes it seem; give yourself time to see it clearly again.
25. You are a survivor, and your story is one of courage, not just of loss.
VERO – AXIOS
Prof. Tim McGuinness, Ph.D.
December 2025
This is but one component, one piece of the puzzle …
Understanding how the human mind is manipulated and controlled involves recognizing that the tactics employed by deceivers are multifaceted and complex. This information is just one aspect of a broader spectrum of vulnerabilities, tendencies, and techniques that permit us to be influenced and deceived. To grasp the full extent of how our minds can be influenced, it is essential to examine all the various processes and functions of our brains and minds, methods and strategies used the criminals, and our psychological tendencies (such as cognitive biases) that enable deception. Each part contributes to a larger puzzle, revealing how our perceptions and decisions can be subtly swayed. By appreciating the diverse ways in which manipulation occurs, we gain a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges we face in avoiding deception in its many forms.
“Thufir Hawat: Now, remember, the first step in avoiding a *trap* – is knowing of its existence.” — DUNE
“If you can fully understand your own mind, you can avoid any deception!” — Tim McGuinness, Ph.D.
“The essence of bravery is being without self-deception.” — Pema Chödrön
