SCARS Institute Research Lab

Scam Victim Mindset Orientation Survey

After a scam, every victim responds in their own way.

Some people keep what happened at a distance, some feel deep anger, and others are already facing the loss and looking for help.

This SCARS Institute survey asks where you are right now: how you see the scam, who you feel angry at, how you are facing what happened, and what support you have used. There are no right or wrong answers, because every response is a normal part of the journey. The survey takes about 8 minutes; you are free to skip any question, and your answers remain completely anonymous.

Glossary

See the full ScamsNOW Magazine Glossary

Why Do Research?

Scams are crimes built on deception, and the only way to understand them fully is to study them carefully. Research shows how scammers find their targets, which methods they use, and how their tactics change over time. That knowledge helps law enforcement, banks, and the public spot scams sooner and stop them before more people are harmed.

Research also reveals what victims go through. Surveys capture experiences that rarely appear in police reports, such as shame, isolation, trauma, and the long road back to stability. When thousands of victims answer the same questions, patterns emerge that no single story shows. Those patterns explain why some victims recover faster than others, which kinds of support help most, and where victims struggle the most.

The science behind victim recovery depends on this evidence. Psychology, trauma research, and victimology all need real data from real survivors to build better care. Each answer helps counselors, support groups, and advocates replace guesswork with methods that work. It also helps clear away myths, such as the belief that only careless or foolish people fall for scams.

Every survivor who takes part in a survey adds to that knowledge. Your experience becomes part of the evidence that helps the next victim heal.

SCARS Institute

Leave A Comment