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U.S. Cyber Force Moves Forward

U.S. Cyber Force Moves Forward

By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc., portions The Record

U.S. Senate Opens Path For A Cyber-Focused Military Branch

The possibility of a U.S. Cyber Force moved one step closer to reality this last week after the Senate approved its version of a massive defense policy bill.

The $886 billion National Defense Authorization Act passed in an 86-11 vote. The Republican-led House narrowly passed its version of the legislation earlier this month, mostly along party lines. The two chambers will now go to conference to write a final compromise measure.

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2023-07-29T17:58:27-04:00Uncategorized|

FraudGPT – AI For The Bad Guys

FraudGPT – AI For The Bad Guys

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

FraudGPT: The New AI-Powered Cybercrime Tool

The rise of generative AI models has changed the fraud & cybercrime threat landscape drastically and FraudGPT is a new plateau in this new arms race..

Threat actors can now use these models, such as FraudGPT to create realistic and convincing phishing emails, malware, and other malicious content that is flawless (or almost flawless.)

In July 2023, a new AI tool called FraudGPT was discovered on the Dark Web. FraudGPT is a bot that can be used to create realistic phishing emails, cracking tools, and other malicious content. The tool is currently being sold on various Dark Web marketplaces and the Telegram platform.

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2023-07-28T09:15:39-04:00Uncategorized|

UK Threat From Organised Crime

UK Threat From Organised Crime

By Graeme Biggar CBE, Director General, National Crime Agency, United Kingdom

Providing A Picture Of The Threat To The UK From Serious And Organised Crime

What is Serious and Organised Crime?

Serious and organised crime (SOC) is defined in the 2018 Serious and Organised Crime Strategy as individuals planning, coordinating and committing serious offences, whether individually, in groups and/or as part of transnational networks.

The main categories of serious offences covered by the term are: child sexual abuse; modern slavery and human trafficking; organised immigration crime; illegal drugs; illegal firearms; organised acquisitive crime; cybercrime; fraud; money laundering; and bribery, corruption and sanctions evasion.

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2023-07-28T08:08:40-04:00Uncategorized|

The Dark Side of Generative AI

The Dark Side of Generative AI

By Frances Zelazny, Co-Founder & CEO, Anonybit | Strategic Advisor

The Dark Side of Innovation: Identity Theft, Fraud and the Rise of Generative AI

In recent years, technological advancements in artificial intelligence (Generative AI) have revolutionized various fields, making remarkable progress in creating incredibly realistic content. We’ve all been amazed by the possibilities and progress. It’s no wonder that within two months of its launch in late November, ChatGPT had 100 million monthly active users, a number that took Instagram two and a half years to reach and TikTok nine months.

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2023-07-26T21:07:40-04:00Uncategorized|

67 Year Old Money Mule Convicted

67 Year Old Money Mule Convicted

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

67 Year Old Money Mule Faces 20 Years In Prison

Clay County, Florida Woman – Money Mule – Pleads Guilty To Fraud Charge In Online Romance Scheme

THIS COULD BE A LIFE SENTENCE FOR HER!

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2023-07-26T16:38:43-04:00Uncategorized|

U.S. FedNOW Is Launched

U.S. FedNOW Is Launched

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

U.S. Federal Reserve Launches Long-Awaited FedNOW Instant Payments Service, Modernizing System

The United States Federal Reserve announces that its new system for instant payments, the FedNow® Service, is now live

The Federal Reserve on Thursday announced that its new system for instant payments, the FedNow® Service, is now live. Banks and credit unions of all sizes can sign up and use this tool to instantly transfer money for their customers, any time of the day, on any day of the year.

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2023-07-23T11:59:30-04:00Uncategorized|

APP Scam/Fraud Repayment In The UK Moves A Step Further

APP Scam/Fraud Repayment In The UK Moves A Step Further

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

UK’s PSR Takes First Step In Implementing New APP Scam Refund/Reimbursement Requirements

Today, the United Kingdom’s Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has published its consultation on two of its draft directions which are the legal means to put its new Authorized Push Payments APP scam reimbursement requirements in place. This marks the start of the regulator’s plans to implement new requirements that will see mandatory reimbursement for victims of APP scams.

In June, the regulator set out its requirements for tackling APP scams and improving protections for victims of these frauds. These include:

  • New rules in Faster Payments – the payment system across which the vast majority of APP fraud currently takes place – strengthening Pay.UK’s ability to tackle fraud.
  • All payment firms will be incentivised to take action, with sending and receiving firms splitting the costs of reimbursement 50:50.
  • Customers will be more protected under consistent minimum standards, with most APP fraud victims being reimbursed within five business days and additional protections offered for vulnerable customers.
  • Industry will have clearer guidance to follow, including around the ability to apply a claim excess and maximum level of reimbursement, which the PSR will consult on later this year.

The PSR said it would seek views on the legal means by which the new changes will be enforced and focuses on the detail of two of the three legal instruments.

The Read More …

2023-07-23T12:07:05-04:00Uncategorized|

Robocall Refunds From The FTC & State Of Florida $540,000

Robocall Refunds From The FTC & State Of Florida $540,000

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

FTC and State of Florida Send More Than $540,000 to Consumers Who Lost Money to Robocall Scammers Selling Bogus Interest Rate Reduction Services

The Federal Trade Commission and the Florida Attorney General are sending refunds totaling more than $540,000 to consumers nationwide who were defrauded by Life Management Services of Orange County, LLC, and related companies who tricked them into paying for worthless credit card interest rate reduction and debt elimination programs. The average check amount is $117.

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2023-07-23T06:56:44-04:00Uncategorized|

Illegal Robocallers – People Hate Them

Illegal Robocallers – People Hate Them

By Lesley Fair – Federal Trade Commission – reprinted

Robocallers E-I-E-I-NO: Operation Stop Scam Calls targets operators that facilitate illegal robocalls, including “consent farms”

People hate illegal robocallers. No one knows that more than the FTC, which is why we’ve brought 167 cases to date and we won’t stop until companies that violate the FTC Act and the Telemarking Sales Rule hang up once and for all. In the latest battle against these illegal and injurious intrusions, the FTC and over 100 federal and state partners have announced Operation Stop Scam Calls, a nationwide crackdown involving over 180 actions against operations responsible for billions of illegal calls.

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2023-07-22T16:36:29-04:00Uncategorized|

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 the case of scams, the intertwining of magical and fantasy delusions with unrealistic beliefs can enslave victims, making it challenging for them to recover from the emotional and financial devastation.

This article examines the psychological mechanisms at play, shedding light on how magical delusional thinking plays a pivotal role in perpetuating the cycle of deception.

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2023-07-22T09:43:13-04:00Uncategorized|

Scam Victim Commits Crimes For Their Scammers

Scam Victim Commits Crimes For Their Scammers

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

A Japanese Scam Victim Embezzled Millions From Her Employer!

Why did this romance scam victim embezzle?! Simply, she was under the control of criminals; it’s nothing more complicated than that!

Nisshin’s a 66-year-old woman and scam victim was suspected of embezzling 10 million yen (USD$71,613 dollars) from her employer!

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2023-07-19T21:00:29-04:00Uncategorized|

55 Scammers Arrested – Nigerians Execute A Major Raid

55 Scammers Arrested – Nigerians Execute A Major Raid

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

55 Scammers Arrested In Massive Raids In Nigeria

The Scammers Arrested Include Ex-Convict Scammers Returning To Crime

According to the EFCC, they executed a major raid with 55 scammers arrested, Seized 7 Cars, 79 Phones:

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2023-07-19T21:01:22-04:00Uncategorized|

27 Food Fraudsters Arrested In Lithuania And Italy

27 Food Fraudsters Arrested In Lithuania And Italy

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

Fraudsters Relabelled Millions Of Expired Food Products And Reintroduced Them To The Supply Chain, Risking Health And Safety Of European Consumers

A two-part investigation across several EU Member States has unveiled a criminal/fraudster network that operates by reintroducing expired food into the supply chain.

In total, law enforcement officials have arrested 27 fraudsters/criminals responsible for this relatively new criminal practice that jeopardizes the health and safety of European consumers.

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2023-07-14T21:42:29-04:00Uncategorized|

Is The Nigerian EFCC Serious Again?

Is The Nigerian EFCC Serious Again?

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

After Nearly A 3 Week Hiatus, The Nigerian EFCC Is Back Arresting Scammers!

After the abrupt removal of the Nigerian EFCC Chairman and the appointment of his replacement, the EFCC’s enforcement took a nose dive!

Many are questioning the Nigerian government’s commitment to eradicating online criminals/cybercriminals from Nigeria. And the hiatus of the last 3 weeks is not speaking well of their efforts.

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2023-07-14T20:57:55-04:00Uncategorized|

A Tragic Canadian Romance Scam Victim Story

A Tragic Canadian Romance Scam Victim Story

By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc., portions CBC by Colleen Underwood (see below for source link)

A Calgary Woman Became A Victim And Was Scammed Out Of Nearly $500K In An Online Dating Scam

Another Victim Study In Victimology:

A Candian fell victim to a very typical romance scam and lost her life savings and money she borrowed.

As is often the case, a scam victim will be left in a devastated state grasping for answers and unless they find a competent professional support organization or counseling, are left on their own to try to understand what happened and to recover.

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2023-07-14T20:59:27-04:00Uncategorized|

UK Identifies Meta As Responsible For 61% Of APP Fraud

UK Identifies Meta As Responsible For 61% Of APP Fraud

By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. & portions Financial Times

UK Finance, A Banking & Finance Lobby Group In The UK, Is Raising Concerns About Meta

Meta Is The Company That Owns Social Media Sites Facebook, Facebook Marketplace, Instagram, And Whatsapp, Regarding Its Connection To Digital Payment Scams In Britain

According to UK Finance, 61% of reported authorized push payment (money transfer) fraud by volume is linked to Meta’s platforms.

The lobby group has written a letter to the Chancellor, urging the government to hold tech giants (Meta) accountable for the rise in financial crime.

Last year, authorized push payment (money transfers) fraud amounted to £485 million, with scammers employing various tactics, such as impersonating relatives or issuing false fines.

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2023-07-13T04:25:24-04:00Uncategorized|

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 recovery.

This is the SCARS Victim Support Model

The Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams has taken the best parts of over 120 years of recovery science – including the principles and fundamentals of Alcoholics Anonymous – and applied this to the victim support of traumatized & emotionally devastated financial fraud victims to help transform them into survivors.

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2023-07-12T05:06:50-04:00Uncategorized|

Family Takes Legal Action Against Banks After Navy Veteran Loses $3.6 Million in Wire Fraud Scheme

Family Takes Legal Action Against Banks After Navy Veteran Loses $3.6 Million in Wire Fraud Scheme

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

Family Files Lawsuit Against Banks After Veteran Loses $3.6 Million in Wire Fraud Scheme The family of a veteran who fell victim to a devastating wire fraud scheme has taken legal action against multiple banks involved.

A Navy veteran’s family is pursuing legal action against banks and credit unions in Virginia, claiming they should have taken stronger measures to prevent the veteran’s substantial losses in an apparent wire fraud scheme. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the late Larry Cook’s estate, accuses Wells Fargo and Navy Federal Credit Union of negligence and other claims. According to court documents, Cook initiated 74 international wire transfers through Navy Federal and one transfer through Wells Fargo. The family suspects Cook was deceived by a phishing scam, resulting in unauthorized transfers. The case raises concerns about financial institutions’ responsibility in protecting customers from fraud and the need for enhanced prevention measures.

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2023-07-11T17:43:55-04:00Uncategorized|

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 safety and to allow emotional and psychological recovery.

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2023-07-11T17:45:30-04:00Uncategorized|

In Japan – Secondary Victimization by Law Firms

In Japan – Secondary Victimization by Law Firms

By Rika Takebe, Vice Director, NPO Charms – a Janaese Nonprofit Supporting Japanese Scam Victims [on Facebook]

In Japan, Law Firms “Specialized In The Romance Scams / Money Recovery” Come To The Top Of Search

In Japan, if you search “romance scams” (国際ロマンス詐欺) on Google in the Japanese language, the law offices claim to be specialized in online romance scams come to the top of the search. These law offices say they have successfully recovered the loss for the online romance scam victims.

This is becoming a secondary victimization in Japan.

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2023-07-10T15:14:39-04:00Uncategorized|

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 experiences.

Trauma can have a profound impact on a scam victim, both emotionally and mentally. In some cases, traumatized victims may find it difficult to cope with their emotions and may turn to work as a way to avoid dealing with their trauma.

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2023-07-09T23:31:35-04:00Uncategorized|

Scam Victims & Mental Health Blaming

Scam Victims & Mental Health Blaming

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

Mental Health Blaming For Scam Victims Is An Insidious Undermining Of Those Struggling To Heal And Recover

Let’s be clear, we are not talking about mental health conditions such as psychopathy or narcissism. We are talking about the vastly common depression and anxiety disorders that may affect as many as half of our population and other debilitating disorders that prevent normal people from living their best lives.

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2023-07-09T17:07:52-04:00Uncategorized|

Hong Kong And Mainland Chinese Police In Major Raid

Hong Kong And Mainland Chinese Police In Major Raid

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

Hong Kong, Mainland Chinese Police Arrest 17 Suspects In Connection With 149 Online Fraud Cases, Including Writers Of Scripted Scam Dialogue/Scripts

Joint Hong Kong & PRC operation breaks up a major group believed to have carried out online scams, including so-called naked chat blackmail, cheating victims out of HK$68.2 million. Writers of scripted dialogue for scammers among those arrested in Hong Kong

Hong Kong and mainland Chinese police have arrested 17 members of a syndicate suspected to be involved in at least 149 online fraud cases, including writers who provided scripted dialogue for swindlers to trick victims.

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2023-07-08T19:51:03-04:00Uncategorized|

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 one’s existing beliefs instead of being open to changing them. This is antithetical to scam victim recovery!

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2023-07-08T18:58:55-04:00Uncategorized|

Major Ivory Coast Scammer Kingpin of OPERA1er Group Arrested

Major Ivory Coast Scammer Kingpin of OPERA1er Group Arrested

By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc., portions from Interpol

Ivory Coast’s DITT Arrests A Senior “OPERA1er” Group Kingpin Linked To Cybercrime Around The World

An alleged senior member (kingpin) of the cybercriminal group “OPERA1er” linked to attacks on financial institutions across Africa, Latin America and Asia, has been arrested in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. To achieve this arrest, Côte d’Ivoire’s Directorate of Informatics and Technological Traces (DITT) worked with INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) Singapore, AFRIPOL, and Group-IB.

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2023-07-07T21:40:54-04:00Uncategorized|

Scam Victim Resiliency – Why It Is So Much Worse After The Scam – Updated 2024

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

Scam Victims’ Recovery Psychology

Authors:
•  Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – 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.

Article Abstract

Recovery for scam victims is a complex process. Upon discovering the scam, acknowledging it’s not their fault is crucial.

Scam Victims must navigate a spectrum of emotions, seeking support from friends, family, or specialized groups.

Education about scam tactics empowers individuals, contributing to prevention. Reporting the scam is both responsible and aids collective anti-scam efforts. Prioritizing self-care and seeking professional counseling supports emotional healing. Realistic expectations, gradual trust rebuilding, and learning from the experience are integral.

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Coming In Contact With Forced Labor Scammer Slaves

Coming In Contact With Forced Labor Scammer Slaves

By Rika Takebe, Vice Director, NPO Charms – a Janaese Nonprofit Supporting Japanese Scam Victims [on Facebook]

What should I do if a scammer I had contact with reveals that they are a victim of human trafficking and forced labor by a fraudulent organization?

There are limited direct actions you can take. While there is no guarantee of rescue, you can provide information to human rights organizations that fight against human trafficking. This may increase the chances of rescuing the forced labor victims.

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2023-07-06T19:15:08-04:00Uncategorized|

The Mail Is No Longer Safe In The United States

The Mail Is No Longer Safe In The United States

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

The Mail & the Post Office has been a Disaster For Decades

The U.S. Postal Service does a great job with the mail, and has great people doing a hard job! But this appears to be a losing battle!

The simple fact is that the mail does not always go through. If it did then there would be no FedEx, DHS, or UPS. Those companies were the response to a real problem of USPS reliability and performance. After all who pays much higher prices for service if the government service is reliable and safe?

Now we have arrived at a point that is no longer reliable, that the United States Mail is highly vulnerable.

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2023-07-06T12:50:21-04:00Uncategorized|

Google Updated Its Privacy Policy To Include AI

Google Will Use Everything You Publish To Feed Their Generative AI

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

Google’s New Privacy Policy Opens the Door to Web Scraping

Google has updated its privacy policy to allow the company to scrape any publicly available data for use in its artificial intelligence (AI) projects. This means that Google could potentially collect and analyze everything you post online, including your social media posts, blog articles, and even comments on public websites.

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2023-07-06T01:15:47-04:00Uncategorized|

Social Media Prohibition!

Social Media Prohibition!

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

A Major Blow To The Biden Administration’s Attempts To Control Social Media

The Attorney Generals for Louisiana and Missouri have filed a lawsuit alleging that the federal government is unlawfully censoring conservative viewpoints in violation of the First Amendment.

A federal judge, Terry A. Doughty, has ruled that several Biden administration officials are prohibited from contacting social media companies regarding the moderation of posts protected by the First Amendment.

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2023-07-06T00:29:02-04:00Uncategorized|

Federal Trade Commission Going After Fake Reviews

Federal Trade Commission Going After Fake Reviews

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

Federal Trade Commission Announces Proposed Rule Banning Fake Reviews and Testimonials

The Federal Trade Commission proposed a new rule to stop marketers from using illicit review and endorsement practices such as using fake reviews, suppressing honest negative reviews, and paying for positive reviews, which deceive consumers looking for real feedback on a product or service and undercut honest businesses.

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2023-07-04T16:46:50-04:00Uncategorized|

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 limits about how you expect to be treated.

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2023-07-04T02:26:49-04:00Uncategorized|

Bank Account Takeover Fraud Can Happen To You! A Victim’s Story!

Bank Account Takeover Fraud Can Happen To You! A Victim’s Story!

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

This Chase Bank Account Customer Lost Here Life Savings To Bank Account Takeover Fraud And The Bank Blames Her!

A small business owner lost her life’s savings when scammers pretending to be Chase bank employees defrauded her out of $160,000 by taking over her account.

Chase refused to refund any of her money, saying she did not take appropriate steps to protect her account.

Experts say the bank should adopt stricter security measures to protect customers.

Anna Werner reports in this video!

About Bank Account Takeover Fraud (Scams)

A bank account takeover (BATO) phone scam is a type of fraud in which the scammer calls the victim and pretends to be from their bank. The scammer may say that there is suspicious activity on the victim’s account and that they need to verify the victim’s information in order to protect their account. The scammer will then ask the victim for their personal information, such as their Social Security number, bank account number, and PIN. Once the scammer has this information, they can use it to access the victim’s bank account and steal their money.

BATO phone scams are becoming increasingly common. In 2021, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received over 3.3 million reports of fraud involving imposter scams, which include Bank Account Takeover phone scams. These scams cost victims billions of Read More …

2023-07-03T14:42:00-04:00Uncategorized|

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

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2023-09-23T06:39:18-04:00Uncategorized|

Victimology – What Is It?

Victimology – What Is It?

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

The Science of VICTIMOLOGY

Pronounced: vic·tim·ol·o·gy

Introduction

Victimology is the study of the victims of crime and the psychological effects on them resulting from their experience. “specialists in victimology will study how best to help the victims of crime recover” and what causes vulnerability to crime.

Victimology is considered a science. It is a branch of criminology that scientifically studies the relationship between an injured party and an offender by examining the causes and the nature of the consequent suffering.

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2023-07-02T16:41:38-04:00Uncategorized|

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.

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2023-06-30T22:04:53-04:00Uncategorized|

Reginald Fowler – Ex-NFL Football Team Own Convicted Of $700 Million Scam

Reginald Fowler – Ex-NFL Football Team Own Convicted Of $700 Million Scam

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

Reginald Fowler – Ex-Part Owner Of Minnesota Vikings Gets Over Six Years In Cryptocurrency Scam

Scams Come In All Forms! So Do Scammers Such As Reginald Fowler!

Reginald Fowler, a former part-owner of the Minnesota Vikings who defrauded a short-lived professional football league known as the Alliance of American Football in a $700 million cryptocurrency scam was sentenced Monday to over six years in prison.

Reginald Fowler, 64, of Chandler, Arizona, was sentenced in Manhattan federal court to six years and three months in prison and was ordered to forfeit $740 million and pay restitution of $53 million.

The Alliance of American Football met a speedy end in 2019 when it ran out of money that’s to Reginald Fowler.

Prosecutors said Reginald Fowler lied to the league’s executives when he claimed to control bank accounts with tens of millions of dollars from real estate investments and government contracts that he could use to support the league.

In 2005, Reginald Fowler tried to buy the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, becoming a minority owner before his involvement in the team ended in 2014.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement that Reginald Fowler broke the law by processing hundreds of millions of dollars of unregulated transactions on behalf of cryptocurrency exchanges that were used as a shadow bank.

“He did so by lying to legitimate U.S. financial institutions, which exposed the U.S. financial Read More …

2023-06-30T20:35:57-04:00Uncategorized|

Jerry Moran Senate Campaign Scammed Out Of $690,000

Jerry Moran Senate Campaign Scammed Out Of $690,000 In BEC Scam

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

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran’s Reelection Campaign Scammed Out Of $690K – A Classic Business Email Compromise Scam

Someone scammed U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran’s reelection campaign out of $690,000 by getting the Kansas Republican’s accounting firm to wire the money to fraudulent bank accounts, Jerry Moran’s office said.

Jerry Moran’s campaign treasurer, Timothy Gottschalk, notified the Federal Election Commission by email on Dec. 8 of “fraudulent activity by a third-party cyber-criminal.” The letter said that after the campaign notified a local sheriff’s office on Nov. 16, eight days after the general election, the case was forwarded to the FBI and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

The letter said that Senator Jerry Moran’s campaign received two fraudulent invoices that appeared to be from SRCP Media Inc., a Washington area company hired to handle Moran’s broadcast advertising. The letter said the campaign organization wired $345,000 on Oct. 25 and another $345,000 on Nov. 9.

“As soon as a discrepancy was realized, it was reported to law enforcement,” Jerry Moran spokesman Tom Brandt said in an email Monday. “We are currently pursuing all avenues available to recover the money and there is an ongoing investigation with the FBI.”

The Jerry Moran campaign’s email to the FEC said that as of Dec. 8, the campaign had recovered $168,184.

The FBI does not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation into Senator Jerry Read More …

2023-06-30T20:22:54-04:00Uncategorized|

Israel Seized $1.7M in Crypto

Israel Seized $1.7M in Crypto

By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc., positions from Reuters and CoinDesk

Israel Seized $1.7M in Crypto From Iranian Military and Hezbollah With Chainalysis’ Aid

The Israeli government seized the crypto wallets after an order from Defense Minister Yoav Gallant earlier this week.

The Israeli government has seized $1.7 million in crypto from wallets linked to the Iranian military and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon with the aide of Chainalysis, according to the Defence Minister announced and the crypto investigations firm.

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2023-06-30T19:59:26-04:00Uncategorized|

Europol Arrests 70 Phone Scammers Plus Kingpin

Europol Arrests 70 Scammers Plus Kingpin

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

Europol & Police Unplug International Phone Scam Network

The Kingpin and over 70 scammer associates were arrested by Europol and police partners; the network used pleas of “fake relatives” to extort victims for over EUR 5 million in damages

Read More …

2023-06-30T20:00:29-04:00Uncategorized|