Scam Victims Compliance With Scammer Authority Figures
Helping Scam Victims to Understand the Psychology of Scams
Author:
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
About This Article
The article provides an in-depth exploration of the psychological mechanisms that drive scam victims to comply with scammer impersonation of authority figures.
It examines how scammers exploit individuals’ innate tendency to respect and obey authority, leveraging this predisposition to manipulate victims into compliance. Factors such as fear of consequences, social conditioning, and deception contribute to victims’ susceptibility to fraudulent schemes.
Understanding these dynamics is vital for developing effective strategies to combat scams and cyber fraud and protect individuals from exploitation. Through education, awareness, and targeted interventions, we can empower individuals to recognize and resist scams, ultimately creating a safer digital environment for everyone.

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More Related Information:
- Manual of Scam Psychology (ScamPsychology.org)
- Coping with Scam Victim Trauma: Exploring Positive and Negative Coping Mechanisms – 2024 (scamsnow.com)
- Rebuilding Trust: The Scam Victim’s Journey from Victimhood to Empowerment – 2024 (scamsnow.com)
- Scam Victims Will Never Be The Same – A Harsh Truth – 2024 (scamsnow.com)
- Vulnerability and Breakdown in Scam Victims – The Camel’s Back Syndrome Metaphor – 2024 (scamsnow.com)
- Overconfidence And Scam Victims’ Susceptibility To Scams – 2024 (scamsnow.com)
- What Really Are Vulnerabilities That Lead To Scams? [UPDATED 2024] (scamsnow.com)
- Rebuilding Trust: The Scam Victim’s Journey from Victimhood to Empowerment – 2024 (scamsnow.com)
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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
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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.
More ScamsNOW.com Articles
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.
Understanding the various biases targeted by anyone portraying a police officer, government official or really any authority figure is helpful. Being aware of how they prey on these biases will hopefully raise red flags and allow discernment. Thank you SCARS for this education!
Very interesting. Personally, I have experienced the end result of an Authority Figure Scam through my job. I have seen elderly men and women come in and purchase gift cards at the store where I work. There was one that management had to intercept that was trying to purchase $8,000 in gift cards. In the end management can only try to talk the purchaser down and report to local law enforcement. The store I work at is one of only a handful in the area that has a larger gift card kiosk. Living in a rural area makes finding gift cards that work for scammers difficult at best. In the case of the person purchasing $8,000 in gift cards it was because they had not only a call from the IRS but a person that showed up at their door saying they would take gift cards in place of the money.
A month after my scam ended, another scammer contacted me claiming that he was a data analyst from a financial institution. They said my name came up on a recent data report because their system detected I may have been scammed by a fraudulent investment platform. I already knew it was another scam since they contacted me through WhatsApp, but I still engaged. I mentioned my previous scammer’s name and he said he knew him so he really wanted to help me recover my lost funds (red flag). He started sending me photos of food he was eating and photos of himself (red flag), very similar to what my previous scammer did. I questioned why he was trying to befriend me and he said his friend (previous scammer) asked him to reach out to me in case he’s able help to me. I then brought up the fact that he first told me that my name came up on a data report. He seemed to change his story when he realized I really wanted to get back in contact with my previous scammer. I finally decided to stop engaging and I blocked him because it was just messing with my emotions. A few weeks later, I found SCARS.