Text Scams – New FCC Order Could Substantially Reduce Them

Author:
•  SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

Text Scams – The United States Federal Communications Commission Is Going After Them

On November 22, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted its Second Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which outlines new measures to combat illegal text messages (text scams and illegal marketing texts.)

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Striatum – Inside the Brain of a Scam Victim

Psychology of Scams

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.

Striatum – Our Journey Into The Brain Of Scam Victims Continues

The striatum is a cluster of interconnected nuclei that form a part of the basal ganglia, a group of structures in the brain that are involved in motor control, habit formation, reward, and decision-making.

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Crypto Scams – Lloyds Bank Issues Urgent Warning Over Rising Threat

Author:
•  Lloyd’s Banking Group

Crypto scams surge on social media: Lloyds Bank warns investors, FCA issues warning, experts advise on how to stay safe

Provided by Lloyd’s Bank – unedited

• Crypto scams have surged by 23% this year as fraudsters target younger investors
• Victims losing £10,741 on average, more than any other type of scam
• Two-thirds of investment scams now estimated to start on social media
• Findings highlight importance of investing through trusted, genuine companies

A growing number of British investors risk being defrauded by a wave of fake adverts posted on social media, according to a new a warning issued by Lloyds Bank.

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China Arrests 706 Chinese Scammers Involved In Phone & Internet Scams From Myanmar

Author:
•  SCARS Editorial Team – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

Chinese Coordinated Efforts Across Various Fronts Have Resulted In A Significant Decrease In Reported Cases of Chinese Scammers In Northern Myanmar*

*Reported cases is not necessarily a reduction in actual numbers of Chinese Scammers operating in Myanmar and elsewhere in Southeast Asia

According to Vice-Minister of Public Security Wang Zhizhong, reported cases of telecom and online fraud have dropped by 24 percent since August, demonstrating progress in the government’s crackdown. Wang made this announcement during a press conference in Beijing, where he shared that from January to the end of September, public security agencies apprehended 387 major leaders and key members of Chinese Scammers involved in phone & internet fruad groups.

Facing a challenging landscape, the Ministry of Public Security has worked closely with law enforcement agencies across the country to gain a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics and patterns of Chinese Scammers involved in phone & internet fruad. Specialized teams were created to investigate and address Chinese Scammers involved in phone & internet fruad-related issues, fostering collaboration both within the country and beyond. Wang emphasized the strengthening of multiple measures for the prevention and suppression of such crimes.

The ministry has also engaged in international cooperation by collaborating closely with foreign law enforcement agencies. As part of this effort, Chinese authorities received 4,666 suspects involved in telecom & Internet fraud originating Read More …

Social Media – Where Scams Are Born!

By U.S. Federal Trade Commission

Social Media: A Golden Goose For Scammers

Scammers are hiding in plain sight on social media platforms and reports to the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network point to huge profits. One in four people who reported losing money to fraud since 2021 said it started on social media.[1] Reported losses to scams on social media during the same period hit a staggering $2.7 billion, far higher than any other method of contact. And because the vast majority of frauds are not reported, this figure reflects just a small fraction of the public harm.[2]

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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 is a survival response.

In some cases, this social influence might involve agreeing with or acting like the majority of people in a specific group, or it might involve behaving in a particular way in order to be perceived as “normal” by the group.

Essentially, conformity involves giving in to group pressure.

But conformity can also be with another individual – such as a romance scammer!

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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 system of physical functions that take place inside the brain and elsewhere in your body. Your memories, feelings, thinking, abilities, biases, and beliefs are all electrochemical reactions happening in your brain, nervous and limbic systems.

Why is this important to know?

Because what you remember, believe, and feel is controlled by these systems. Your very identity is not anything close to as solid as you imagine it is. The criminals that scammed you do not fully understand this, but they know how to exploit it,

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3 Smart Bank Strategies to Stop Scams

By Ken Palla, Retired Director, MUFG Union Bank – Courtesy of BioCatch

3 Smart Strategies to Stop Scams That Don’t Break the Bank

In the first part of this blog series on financial scams, Dr. Tim McGuinness and Debby Montgomery Johnson (also a scam victim herself), Board Directors at the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams (SCARS) talked about how to interact with potential scam victims once there was a potential scam transaction alert. In this article, we will look at some specific initiatives that FIs use once they get a scam alert and ways to improve customer education.

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Government Impersonation Scams Are On The Rise!

By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

Government Impersonation Scams: What You Need to Know

In today’s digital age, scammers have found new avenues to exploit unsuspecting individuals, and one of the most insidious forms of deception is government impersonation scams. These scams involve fraudsters posing as government officials or agencies to manipulate victims into disclosing sensitive information, making fraudulent payments, or engaging in other illegal activities. This article aims to shed light on the dangers of government impersonation scams, the tactics employed by scammers, and ways to protect oneself from falling victim.

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Synchronicities? Is There A Relationship With Scams?

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

Synchronicities: For Scam Victims Coincidences Are Everywhere! Or Are They?

What are Synchronicities?

Synchronicities are meaningful coincidences or occurrences that seemingly have no causal relationship but are deeply resonant or significant to the individuals experiencing them. These events often appear as striking coincidences, where multiple events or circumstances align in a way that feels meaningful or purposeful.

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Walmart Facilitated Scams According To The FTC

By FTC & SCARS Editorial Team

Walmart: FTC Files Amended Complaint Charging that Walmart Facilitated Scams Through Its Money Transfer Services That Fleeced Customers Out of Hundreds of Millions

The Federal Trade Commission filed an amended complaint against Walmart – bolstering the agency’s case that Walmart allowed its money transfer services to be used by scammers, who fleeced consumers out of hundreds of millions of dollars.

The FTC filed the amended complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Walmart, following the court’s March 27, 2023 ruling on the FTC’s initial complaint. The amended complaint adds further details on Walmart’s alleged violations of the Telemarketing Sales Rule, including the Rule’s ban on the use of cash-to-cash money transfers in any telemarketing transaction.

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Police Chiefs & Sheriffs: Use GoFundMe To Raise Money To Fight Cybercrime, Scams, And Fraud – And Obtain Tools & Training

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

The Fight Against Cybercrime Is As Much A Local Fight As a National Or International Fight

Local police & sheriff departments are the first responders for their citizens, but in the war against cybercrime, most of them have thrown up their hands and told their citizens there is nothing they can do!

But there is very much they can do, especially when it comes to tracing and recovering the money!

However, local police need financial support to get the tools, training, and even personnel needed to do the job well.

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France Fights Back Against Influencers And Scams

By SCARS Editorial Team, Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

Influencers Are Out Of Control & Scamming Millions

In response to a surge in online scams orchestrated by influencers, France has taken decisive action.

These influencers have exploited their followers, convincing them to part with their hard-earned savings for miracle cancer cures and other fraudulent products.

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