SCARS Emotional Scam Victims’ Support & Recovery Program
Turning Them Into Scam Survivors
Author:
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

Article Abstract
The SCARS 3 Step Emotional Support & Recovery Program for Relationship Scam Victims is a structured, comprehensive initiative aimed at transforming victims into survivors and ultimately thriving individuals.
In the first step, “New Arrivers,” victims receive crisis support, immediate assistance, and guidance on confronting the reality of their situation.
The second step, spanning the next 12 months, focuses on acceptance and empowerment, encouraging survivors to reinforce recovery gains, take corrective actions, and integrate the experience into their life stories.
The program provides ongoing support in the third step, promoting continued acceptance, socialization, and advocacy.
With components like individual therapy, support groups, and legal advice, the program operates on key principles such as trauma-informed care, compassion, and empowerment, offering victims a structured roadmap for healing.
SCARS Emotional Support & Recovery Program For Scam Victims Turning Them Into Scam Survivors
SCARS 3-Step Emotional Support & Recovery Program for Relationship Scam Victims
This is a support & recovery program invented by SCARS based on over 100 years of recovery & psychological science.
Please note the time scales are typical estimates. Each individual’s experience will vary based upon their own trauma and their commitment to their recovery. Step duration is fixed and a part of the program.
When we refer to therapy or counseling, this is independent of SCARS itself. SCARS recommends that all scam victims find professional trauma counseling or therapy. SCARS is partnered with BetterHelp.com to provide initial therapy through its SCARS STAR Membership program – but this is not mandatory for access to our Support & Recovery Program. To learn more about the SCARS STAR Membership visit membership.AgainstScams.org To find trauma counselors or therapists worldwide visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
SCARS Emotional Support & Recovery Program STEP 1
The first 9 months – New Arrivers
Early Crisis Support
We have a special Step ZERO support group for scam victims who are overwhelmed and experiencing too much trauma to adapt to our regular groups just yet. The focus in the Step Zero group is stabilization.
Discovery and Crisis (3-8 Weeks +/-)
- Immediate Support:
- Crisis Hotlines: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988), Crisis Text Line (Text HOME to 741741)
- Mental Health Professionals: Seek individual therapy or join a support group specifically for scam victims.
- Legal and Financial Aid: Consult lawyers and financial advisors to secure your finances and explore legal options.
- Confronting the Reality:
- Gather evidence and document the scam: This helps solidify the truth and prevent further engagement.
- Educate yourself about the tactics used by the criminals: Understanding the whole process of victimization, including manipulation techniques employed can empower victims and prevent future scams.
- Validate your emotions: Allow yourself to feel anger, sadness, and betrayal. Bottling them up will hinder healing.
Begin Processing the Grief and Understanding Trauma (next 12 Weeks +/-)
-
Grieving the Lost Relationship:
- Acknowledge the loss: Accept that the relationship was never real, and grieve the idealized version of the scammer.
- Journaling and creative expression: Express your emotions through writing, art, or other creative outlets.
- Support groups and therapy: Connecting with others who understand can provide solace and validation.
-
Healing the Trauma:
- Trauma-informed coaching and guidance: Helping survivors learn about their minds and how to better manage their own trauma and grief.
- Trauma-focused therapy: Recommended third-part counseling or therapy to help address and learn techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) can help process and manage trauma symptoms.
- Mindfulness and relaxation techniques: Practices like deep breathing and meditation can help manage stress and anxiety associated with the trauma.
- Physical activity: Encouraging survivors to engage in exercise releases endorphins and promotes overall well-being.
Rebuilding Self-Esteem and Trust (next 16 Weeks +/-)
- Focus on self-compassion: Practice self-forgiveness and avoid self-blame. You were targeted by skilled manipulators, not because of any personal flaws.
- Rebuilding trust: Start small by confiding in trusted friends and family. Gradually rebuild your trust in yourself and your ability to discern genuine connections.
- Reconnecting with loved ones and friends: Open up about your experience and seek their support. Strengthen your existing relationships and create new, healthy connections. Begin to recognize that they were victims too.
SCARS Emotional Support & Recovery Program STEP 2
The next 12 months
Acceptance and Empowerment (Survivors)
- Reinforce recovery gains: Stay focused and committed to recovery and supporting others.
- Corrective actions: many survivors avoid or are resistant to necessary steps, but now must confront them.
- Acceptance: Integrate the experience into your life story without letting it define you.
- Setting boundaries: Develop healthy communication skills and establish clear boundaries to protect yourself from future manipulation.
- Advocacy and awareness: Consider sharing your story to raise awareness about scams and empower others.
SCARS Emotional Support & Recovery Program STEP 3
For as long as they want
Acceptance and Empowerment (Thrivors)
- Socialization: Expand your community with other survivors and turn it into a social context
- Final Acceptance: Integrate the experience into your life story without letting it define you.
- Setting boundaries: Develop healthy communication skills and establish clear boundaries to protect yourself from future manipulation.
- Advocacy and awareness: Consider sharing your story to raise awareness about scams and empower others.
SCARS Emotional Support & Recovery Program Components
Provided by SCARS:
- Weekly Zoom Calls
- Individual support sessions
- Support groups led by experienced facilitators
- Educational workshops on scam tactics and recovery strategies
- Mindfulness and relaxation techniques
- Physical activity and wellness sessions
- Creative expression workshops
- Legal and financial advice
- Peer mentoring and buddy system
Third-party services:
- Crisis Hotlines: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988), Crisis Text Line (Text HOME to 741741)
- Mental Health Professionals: Seek individual therapy or join a support group specifically for scam victims. Either BetterHelp or other counseling or therapy.
- Legal and Financial Aid: Consult lawyers and financial advisors to secure your finances and explore legal options.
Key Principles:
- Trauma-informed care: Acknowledge the unique needs and experiences of scam victims.
- Compassion and empathy: Create a safe and supportive environment for healing.
- Empowerment and self-advocacy: Equip victims with the tools and knowledge to regain control and rebuild their lives.
- Holistic approach: Address the emotional, psychological, and practical aspects of recovery.
Remember, healing is a journey, not a destination. This program is a roadmap, but everyone’s pace and needs will vary. With support, guidance, and self-compassion, you can move through the pain, rebuild your life, and emerge stronger from this experience.
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on A Scam Victim in Extreme Distress – Stopping the Pain – 2024: “this post really clarified a lot of things for me, and heled me to understand , there is a lot…” Aug 1, 07:31
on Glimmers of Light – the Positive Side of Experience for Scam Victims – 2025: “Very useful /helpful article for victims suffering from trauma not only of all types” Jul 31, 02:47
on Relationship Scam Victims – Impact On Employment And Jobs – Saving Employment After A Scam: “Trauma, fear of shame, grief can alter how we handle day to day situations such as work or caring for…” Jul 31, 02:08
on Fear Of Contagion: Why Scam Victims Are Harshly Judged And Blamed 2023: “This comment stems from a re-read of this article. I first read it several months ago. I understand that others…” Jul 31, 01:28
on WARNING – Scam Victims Exploited By The News Media – 2024 [UPDATED 2025]: “The article highlights some important information for victims who after years of recovery/support feel “ready” to talk to the media…” Jul 28, 18:54
on WARNING – Scam Victims Exploited By The News Media – 2024 [UPDATED 2025]: “Thank you for this explanation of the potential added on trauma a survivor could be exposed to. Definitely not worth…” Jul 21, 17:13
on Acknowledging The Harm Done – 2025: “Well written article explaining the harm done and why it is necessary to acknowledge it. In part it helped me…” Jul 21, 16:57
on Dear Scam Victim Family & Friends – You Are Also Scam Victims – 2024: “A scam is hard on everyone who loves and cares for the victim. The survivor goes through a lot to…” Jul 21, 14:04
on A Scam Victim in Extreme Distress – Stopping the Pain – 2024: “Jina, we redacted your comments since they do not comply with our policies. However, this does not invalidate what happened…” Jul 20, 21:45
on Waiting to See if Someone is Real – Take a Pause First – 2025: “The pause remains important…actually now the pause is critical. There is nothing, not a financial gain, an item, a meeting,…” Jul 20, 19:55
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on The Paradox of Pain – 2025: “This is a great article and holds significance for me. Initially after my crime I felt such pain. It would…” Jul 20, 12:19
on A Scam Victim in Extreme Distress – Stopping the Pain – 2024: “[REDACTED FOR POLICY REASONS]” Jul 20, 11:40
on The Unique Injury Of Betrayal Trauma On Scam Victims – 2024: “It will come as recovery progresses, but stopping and then restarting recovery after years makes it harder. Just keep learning…” Jul 19, 21:10
on Waiting to See if Someone is Real – Take a Pause First – 2025: “Very valuable information for all /including myself/ who still struggle with their own impulsive reactions.” Jul 19, 06:21
on The Unique Injury Of Betrayal Trauma On Scam Victims – 2024: “It’s so hard to recover the compassion and reliability in the daily communication with others especially the scam trauma was…” Jul 18, 19:38
on Aren’t We All The Same? Aren’t We All Just Meat-Robots? An essay on Humanity by Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – 2025: “excelente!!! la claridad y la profundidad del análisis son realmente impresionantes. Me aportó mucho leerlo. totalmente de acuerdo entre la…” Jul 16, 11:17
on Savior Syndrome And The Negative Consequences To Them And Other Scam Victims – 2023: “We must heal ourselves before trying to help or heal others. It is easy to get caught up in the…” Jul 16, 11:13
on Anger & Self-Radicalization – Recovery Psychology 2023: “Anger can be useful but most often it is destructive on the individual, their family and friends. I like that…” Jul 16, 10:59
on Residual Fear In Scam Victims – 2024 [UPDATED 2025]: “Thank you for another fantastic SCARS article! I have felt some fear lately, that has caused me to feel tense…” Jul 16, 10:10
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.
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.
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