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

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Scam Victim Suicides Are Up – New Data Hints

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

Risk of Suicides in Scam and Financial Fraud Victims Is Sharply On The Rise

Scams and financial fraud can have a devastating impact on victims, both financially and emotionally. In some cases, the emotional toll can be so great that victims may feel like they have no other way out but to commit suicide and take their own life.

Suicides Risk

The risk of suicide is especially high among elderly victims. A study by the National Center for Victims of Crime found that the rate of suicides among elderly scam victims is twice as high as the national average. Add on the loss of their life savings and the impact is obvious!

There are a number of reasons why scam and financial fraud victims may be at risk of suicides. These include:

  • Financial loss: Scams and financial fraud can lead to significant financial losses, which can have a devastating impact on victims’ lives. They may lose their homes, their retirement savings, or their ability to provide for themselves or their families.
  • Sense of Shame and Guilt: Many scam victims feel ashamed and guilty about being scammed. They may blame themselves for being gullible or naive. This can lead to feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness.
  • Isolation: Scam and financial fraud can be isolating experiences. Victims may feel like they are the only ones who have been scammed, and they may be reluctant to talk about it with others. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and despair.
  • Fear: Many scam victims take out loans from less than credible sources, and when they are unable to pay these back they face real risks – this is especially true in Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America

Estimations of Suicides

  • SCARS alone is contacted by 3-5 individuals a day stating they are going to commit suicide a day – an increase of 300% in the last 2 years.
  • In the UK Action Fraud police agency admits that they are contacted by over 300 suicidal victims a year.
  • A study by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found that 26% of scam victims reported feeling depressed, anxious, or stressed as a result of the fraud. And 12% said they had considered suicide.
  • Hong Kong charity says 20 percent of scam victims have suicidal thoughts

SCARS Analytics now indicates that suicides resulting from scams/financial fraud have reached a new high – above 30 people dying a day in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand!

In actuality, we believe the number worldwide is probably closer to 150 or above a day now. The global number is above 50,000 suicide deaths per year.

But we admit this is extraordinarily hard to quantify and track suicide deaths. Suicides are almost never attributed to a reason in police or medical examiner reporting. So correlating suicides to a crime is almost impossible.

Felony Murder

According to Cornell Law Shcool:

The felony murder rule is a law in most states and under federal law [in the United States] that allows anyone who is accused of committing a felony to be charged with murder if the commission of that felony results in the death of someone. The people involved in the felony may be charged for murder under the rule even if they had no intention of killing someone.

SCARS encourages law enforcement and prosecutors to take the time to dig deeper since a suicide caused by financial fraud could be felony murder – death during the commission of a felony.

We encourage prosecutors to start exploring this seriously when they prosecute criminals that commit these crimes. There is blood on their hands!

We encourage the Department of Justice to go back and explore the financial fraud cases they have prosecuted in the last few years to see if there were cases that qualify.

Suicides Examples

Summary

The truth is no one knows the total numbers, but based on the data available it is huge. The United States Centers for Disease Control estimate that 0.5% of those thinking about suicide actually take their lives.

If 1 in 4 victims are thinking about suicide, and if that is the case, and we have 2-3 million new victims a year, then that suggests that there are 250,000 scam/fraud victim suicides a year! A staggering number!

If an identified victim took their life, then the criminals the perpetrated the crime that led to that should be prosecuted for that death! If we started charging scammers with murder it would change the risk factor for them enormously!

We all have a responsibility to stop arguing over who is responsible and to take action now!

If You Need To Talk To Someone Right Now

If you feel that you must talk to someone right now call this number (in the U.S. & Canada): 988 / 1-800-273-8255 – it is available 24 hours in English and Spanish. To find other crisis hotlines for your country search on Google for “Crisis Hotline.” Remember, there is no shame in asking for help. The Lifeline and 988 : Lifeline (988lifeline.org)

Worldwide: Here Are The Numbers You Can Call:

Source Data:

  • FTC: The FTC data was from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): “2021 Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book”
    The study was released in February 2022 and analyzed data from over 2.8 million fraud reports filed with the FTC in 2021. The study found that 26% of scam victims reported feeling depressed, anxious, or stressed as a result of the fraud. And 12% said they had considered suicide.
    The study also found that the risk of suicide was higher among elderly victims. Elderly victims were twice as likely as younger victims to report feeling depressed, anxious, or stressed, and three times as likely to say they had considered suicide.
    The study’s findings underscore the importance of providing support to scam and financial fraud victims. Victims should be encouraged to seek help from mental health professionals if they are feeling suicidal. The police and prosecutors should also be doing more to hold the criminals behind these crimes accountable.
  • SCARS Data: Internal SCARS Analytics – unpublished analysis
  • US CDC: Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Adults Aged ≥18 Years — United States, 2015–2019 | MMWR (cdc.gov)
  • PMC: Suicide in the elderly: a 37-years retrospective study – PMC (nih.gov)

Resources:

More:

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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!

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

♦ 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.

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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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