A Typical Scam Victim Journey Through Recovery Challenges

Helping Scam Victims Understand What their Priorities Should Be while going through Recovery

A SCARS Scam Victim Recovery Insight – 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.

About This Article

The SCARS phased approach provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and addressing the challenges that afflict scam victims during their recovery process. This is not the only recovery model, but this best reflects the experience that SCARS has had with millions of scam victims over the last decade.

Table of contents

Prioritizing safety, trauma management, grief processing, and self-care are foundational steps in overcoming the aftermath of victimization. Recognizing and addressing feelings of shame, guilt, and grief allow victims to navigate the complex emotions associated with their experiences. Legal and practical matters, rebuilding trust, and fostering well-being further contribute to victims’ healing journey.

Each phase offers guidance tailored to victims’ unique needs, emphasizing the importance of seeking support, maintaining a commitment to recovery, and ultimately reclaiming a sense of empowerment. By following this structured approach, scam victims can navigate the complexities of their experiences and embark on a path towards healing and resilience.

SCARS Scam Victim Support & Recovery Program
A Typical Scam Victims Journey Through Challenges - the Psychology of Scam Victim Recovery - on SCARS ScamsNOW.com

A Useful SCARS Phased Approach To Understand Scam Victim Challenges

Prioritizing the challenges that afflict crime victims after a serious crime can vary depending on individual circumstances and needs.

However, here are some general guidelines on how crime victims might prioritize addressing issues such as trauma, grief, shame, self-blame, and guilt:

  • Safety and Immediate Needs: The first priority for crime victims is to ensure their safety and address any immediate physical or emotional needs. This may involve seeking medical attention, securing a safe environment, and reaching out to trusted individuals or support services for assistance.
  • Trauma: Addressing trauma is often a crucial step in the healing process for crime victims. Trauma can manifest in various ways, including flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and hypervigilance. Seeking support from mental health professionals who specialize in trauma therapy can help victims process their experiences, reduce symptoms, and regain a sense of control over their lives.
  • Shame and Self-Blame: Many crime victims experience feelings of shame and self-blame in the aftermath of the crime. It’s important for victims to recognize that they are not responsible for the actions of the perpetrator and that these feelings are common reactions to trauma. Challenging negative self-talk, reframing distorted beliefs, and practicing self-compassion can help victims address shame and self-blame.
  • Guilt: Victims may also experience guilt, particularly if they believe they could have prevented the crime or if they feel responsible for the consequences of the crime. It’s important for victims to acknowledge their feelings of guilt without letting them consume their thoughts or dictate their actions. Working with a therapist to explore the underlying causes of guilt and develop coping strategies can be beneficial.
  • Grief: Grieving the loss of a loved one or the loss of a sense of safety and security is a natural response to crime victimization. It’s essential for victims to allow themselves to mourn their losses and express their emotions in healthy ways. Connecting with support groups, attending counseling sessions, and participating in rituals or ceremonies can help facilitate the grieving process.
  • Legal and Practical Matters: Dealing with legal proceedings, filing reports, and navigating bureaucratic processes can be overwhelming for crime victims. Seeking assistance from victim advocates, legal professionals, or victim support services can help victims understand their rights, access resources, and navigate the legal system with greater ease.
  • Rebuilding Trust and Safety: Rebuilding a sense of trust and safety after a crime can take time and effort. Engaging in activities that promote a sense of security, establishing healthy boundaries, and surrounding oneself with supportive and trustworthy individuals can aid in the process of rebuilding trust and reclaiming a sense of safety.
  • Self-Care and Well-Being: Prioritizing self-care and well-being is essential for crime victims to regain their strength and resilience. This may involve engaging in activities that promote relaxation, enjoyment, and personal growth, such as exercise, hobbies, meditation, and spending time with loved ones. Taking care of one’s physical, emotional, and mental health is crucial for long-term healing and recovery.

It’s important to recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing the challenges that afflict crime victims. Each individual’s journey toward healing and recovery is unique, and victims need to seek support, guidance, and resources that resonate with their needs and preferences. By prioritizing self-care, seeking professional help, and connecting with supportive networks, crime victims can navigate the complexities of their experiences and ultimately reclaim their sense of empowerment and well-being.

The Scam Victim Recovery Pyramid - 2024 - on SCARS ScamsNOW.com

Phase One

  • First Priorities: Ending the crime, overcoming initial denial, shock, desperation, fear, regaining initial control
  • Next Priorities: Accepting that are a victim of crime, and begin accepting 4 basic truths. Reporting the crime

Phase Two

  • Trauma Current & Past: Trauma must be accepted. Then trauma must become managed. This must be the first focus!
  • Shame: Begin overcoming shame & embarrassment
  • Guilt & Self Blame: Set aside guilt & self-blame, and accept not the victim’s fault – 4 basic truths

Phase Three

  • Beliefs & Cognitive Dissonance: Reconcile beliefs & identity challenges. Avoid religious justification for the events & behaviors
  • Grief: Once trauma is being managed, grief (a longer-term challenge) can become one of the focuses
  • Fragility Of Recovery Process: Understand the necessity of staying on the path to recovery & avoid the desire to get it over quickly

Phase Four

  • Reconciling The Mind: Learn how the mind actually functions and how to regain control, overcome biases
  • Understand The Crime: Reconcile the crime with the victim’s actions. Address legal issues, and accept no fault
  • Establish Boundaries: Create proper protective boundaries & fully develop a support circle

Phase Five

  • Commit To Recovery: Initial impact is reduced and recovery progress is under way. Commit to long-term recovery
  • Pay It Forward: Help support others through their own recovery process
  • Understand Recidivism: Understand that victims can still be scammed, and it is more likely than before

Phase Six

  • Relationship Damage: Work on repairing the damage done to family & friend relationships
  • Relationship Ending: Recognize the damage that has been done and move forward with divorce or relationship ending

Phase Seven

  • Financial Stability Damage: Full focus on resolving financial & employment issues – long-term financial survival
  • Financial Conflicts: Address financial conflicts, such as lawsuits and bankruptcy

This Model

This SCARS Model offers an alternative view of the scam victims’ challenges that have to be overcome during the recovery process.

It assumes that the victims are willing to follow the recovery path and follow guidance.

The Trauma Stack

Important Information for New Scam Victims

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PLEASE NOTE: Psychology Clarification

The following specific modalities within the practice of psychology are restricted to psychologists appropriately trained in the use of such modalities:

  • Diagnosis: The diagnosis of mental, emotional, or brain disorders and related behaviors.
  • Psychoanalysis: Psychoanalysis is a type of therapy that focuses on helping individuals to understand and resolve unconscious conflicts.
  • Hypnosis: Hypnosis is a state of trance in which individuals are more susceptible to suggestion. It can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including anxiety, depression, and pain.
  • Biofeedback: Biofeedback is a type of therapy that teaches individuals to control their bodily functions, such as heart rate and blood pressure. It can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including stress, anxiety, and pain.
  • Behavioral analysis: Behavioral analysis is a type of therapy that focuses on changing individuals’ behaviors. It is often used to treat conditions such as autism and ADHD.
    Neuropsychology: Neuropsychology is a type of psychology that focuses on the relationship between the brain and behavior. It is often used to assess and treat cognitive impairments caused by brain injuries or diseases.

SCARS and the members of the SCARS Team do not engage in any of the above modalities in relationship to scam victims. SCARS is not a mental healthcare provider and recognizes the importance of professionalism and separation between its work and that of the licensed practice of psychology.

SCARS is an educational provider of generalized self-help information that individuals can use for their own benefit to achieve their own goals related to emotional trauma. SCARS recommends that all scam victims see professional counselors or therapists to help them determine the suitability of any specific information or practices that may help them.

SCARS cannot diagnose or treat any individuals, nor can it state the effectiveness of any educational information that it may provide, regardless of its experience in interacting with traumatized scam victims over time. All information that SCARS provides is purely for general educational purposes to help scam victims become aware of and better understand the topics and to be able to dialog with their counselors or therapists.

It is important that all readers understand these distinctions and that they apply the information that SCARS may publish at their own risk, and should do so only after consulting a licensed psychologist or mental healthcare provider.

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The opinions of the author are not necessarily those of the Society of Citizens Against Rleationship Scams Inc. The author is solely responsible for the content of their work. SCARS is protected under the Communications Decency Act (CDA) section 230 from liability.

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