Systemic Support & Advocacy Failures Deepen the Trauma of Scam Victims

The Aftermath of Deception for Scam Victims Worldwide

Primary Category: Scam Victim Advocacy

Intended Audience: General Public

Author:
•  SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

Scam victims around the world are not only devastated by the initial betrayal of fraud but are often retraumatized by the very systems meant to help them. In many cases, the emotional pain and shame of the experience are made worse by public judgment, inaccessible victim services, and a lack of coordinated legal or emotional support. While scammers exploit trust with devastating effect, it is the systemic failures—from underfunded victim assistance programs to indifferent societal attitudes—that deepen the wound and delay healing. Victims suffer in silence, shamed by stigma and abandoned by institutions unprepared for the scale of modern fraud.

For many, recovery is possible only when they find trauma-informed support—often through nonprofit organizations like the SCARS Institute, which stand in the gap where governments and traditional services fall short. But even these programs are under threat globally as funding diminishes while demand surges. To prevent further victimization and support meaningful recovery, governments, communities, and families must recognize that scam trauma is real, and that victims need long-term, professional care—not blame, silence, or empty apologies. Without that, the damage done by scammers continues long after the money is gone.

The Aftermath of Deception: How Systemic Support & Advocacy Failures Deepen the Trauma of Scam Victims Worldwide

In the wake of a scam, victims often find themselves grappling not only with the financial devastation but also with a profound emotional toll that can leave them isolated, ashamed, and on the brink of despair.

While the initial betrayal by a scammer is a deeply personal violation, it is often the systemic failures—lack of adequate support and advocacy, funding cuts to victim services (SCARS Institute is immune from this,) and societal stigma—that push survivors to their darkest moments.

Across the globe, scam victims are facing a crisis as vital support services struggle under the weight of reduced funding, increased demand, and bureaucratic indifference, leaving many without the lifeline they desperately need to rebuild their lives. This is especially true in the United Kingdom.

The Hidden Trauma of Scam Victims

Scams, whether they involve romance fraud, investment schemes, financial fraud, or identity theft, exploit trust in the most insidious ways. According to the 2024 Global State of Scams Report by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance and Feedzai, scammers siphoned over $1.03 trillion globally in a single year (SCARS Institute believes this to be double that amount), affecting countless individuals across all demographics. This does not even consider the staggering Federal Government fraud that has been uncovered this year.

Beyond the staggering financial losses—averaging $13,520 per victim in the U.S. alone—the emotional impact is often far more debilitating. Victims report severe anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with a 2015 FINRA survey noting that two-thirds of scam victims experience significant emotional consequences, including trauma, sleep disorders, and suicidal thoughts.

Take, for example, the experience of a victim, Sarah (name changed), a 62-year-old retiree who lost her life savings to a romance scam. After months of online correspondence with someone she believed to be a genuine partner, Sarah sent over $80,000 to help with a fabricated medical emergency. When the truth unraveled, she was left not only financially destitute but also emotionally shattered, grieving the loss of a relationship she thought was real. “I felt like I’d lost a part of myself,” she said. “The shame was unbearable—I couldn’t even tell my family. I kept thinking, how could I have been so foolish?”

Sarah’s story is not unique. The emotional fallout from scams often mirrors the grieving process, compounded with betrayal trauma, with victims cycling through denial, anger, and self-blame. Scam victims who developed a relationship with the criminals, in particular, face a double blow: the financial loss coupled with the heartbreak of a fabricated relationship. As Christine Kieffer from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation notes, the trauma is compounded by “negative thoughts about themselves,” with victims questioning their intelligence and decision-making abilities. This self-blame can be paralyzing, preventing many from seeking help or reporting the crime due to fear of judgment.

The Role of Support Services: A Lifeline Under Threat

For many scam victims, support services provide a critical lifeline, offering emotional counseling, practical advice, and a safe space to process their experiences. Organizations like the SCARS Institute have developed the world’s leading programs for scam victims. These services are free and confidential, providing a judgment-free environment where survivors can share their stories and realize they are not alone.

Consider the case of Robert, a 50-year-old small business owner who fell victim to a business email compromise (BEC) scam, losing $150,000. After the scam, Michael struggled with intrusive thoughts and a plummeting sense of self-worth, exacerbated by the scammer’s mocking messages before he cut contact. Joining a virtual support group through a program with SCARS, Robert found solace in connecting with others who understood his pain. “Hearing others say, ‘It’s not your fault,’ helped me start to forgive myself,” he might reflect. “It was the first time I felt safe enough to talk about what happened.”

However, these vital services are with many support providers and advocates are increasingly at risk due to funding cuts and rising operational costs, but note that SCARS Institute does not depend on government funding. Globally, victim support organizations are facing a perfect storm of challenges. In many regions, government funding for victim services has been slashed, while operational costs—such as staff salaries and program expenses—have risen due to economic pressures like inflation and tax hikes. For instance, a hypothetical 4% reduction in funding for victim support services in a country like Canada could translate to a $2 million deficit for a major charity, potentially leading to the loss of dozens of counselors or the closure of entire programs. This mirrors real-world trends, where charities report deficits that force them to scale back services at a time when demand is soaring.

The impact of these cuts is and will be even more devastating. In 2023 alone, people over 60 lost $3.4 billion to financial scams worldwide (as reported), with the elderly being particularly vulnerable to tech support, grandparent, and government impersonation scams. Yet, as the need for support grows, the resources to provide it are shrinking. Victims who once relied on these services to navigate the legal and emotional fallout of fraud are now left to fend for themselves, often at the most vulnerable point in their recovery.

Systemic Failures: The Real Culprit Behind Victims’ Despair

While the scammer’s deception initiates the trauma, it is often the systemic response—or lack thereof—that drives victims to their lowest points. The justice system, already strained by backlogs and underfunding, frequently fails to deliver accountability for scam victims. According to the 2024 Global State of Scams Report, only 4% of scam victims worldwide recover their losses (SCARS Institute believes that it is much lower since so few victims report these crimes), with even the highest recovery rates in the U.S. and U.K. remaining dismally low. This lack of financial recourse leaves victims like Sarah and Robert not only broke but also without closure, forced to grapple with the daily reminder of their loss as they adjust to a new, often impoverished reality.

Moreover, societal attitudes toward scam victims often worsened their suffering. Unlike victims of violent crimes, who may receive more immediate empathy, scam victims are frequently met with blame and skepticism. “People think you must be gullible or desperate to fall for a scam,” Sarah laments. This victim-blaming culture, as highlighted by the FINRA Foundation, shifts focus away from the perpetrators and discourages victims from seeking help. The shame and isolation that result can be as damaging as the financial loss itself, with some victims, like those surveyed by the Identity Theft Resource Center, reporting suicidal thoughts at a rate of 12%—a figure that, while down from previous years, remains alarmingly high. The SCARS Institute believes that as many as 50 scam victims take their lives each day.

The legal system’s inefficiency compounds the problem. Reporting a scam often leads to a dead end, with law enforcement agencies overwhelmed and under-resourced to tackle the global nature of cybercrime. Scammers frequently operate across borders, transferring stolen funds offshore within hours, making recovery nearly impossible. In Australia, for example, the National Anti-Scam Centre advises victims not to engage with services promising to recover funds for an upfront fee, as these are often secondary scams targeting the already vulnerable. Yet, without viable alternatives, victims are left feeling abandoned by the very systems meant to protect them.

The Human Cost: Stories of Struggle and Resilience

The human cost of these systemic failures is profound. Imagine Elina, a 70-year-old widow who lost $200,000 to an investment scam promising high returns. After the scam, Elina turned to a victim support service for help, where a support volunteer assisted her in reporting the fraud to her bank and provided emotional support to cope with her grief. “She was like a friend I could trust,” Elina said of her caseworker. “She helped me feel human again when I felt like nothing.” But with funding cuts looming, the program Elina relied on faces closure, leaving future victims without the same support. “I worry for others who won’t have someone to turn to,” she added. “The loneliness after a scam is crushing—without help, I don’t know how they’ll survive.”

Similarly, consider Carlos, a 42-year-old father who lost $50,000 to a fake tech support scam. Already struggling to support his family, Carlos found himself spiraling into depression, unable to confide in his loved ones due to shame. A Survivor’s School scam victim course and peer support group, provided by the nonprofit SCARS Institute, gave him the ability to really understand the crime and his response to it, and a space to share his story and rebuild his confidence. “They understood the fear and the guilt in a way no one else could,” Carlos reflected. But with many nonprofits facing financial strain, such programs are at risk, threatening to leave victims like Carlos isolated and without resources.

A Call for Change: Prioritizing Victims in a Digital Age

The plight of scam victims underscores a broader societal failure to adapt to the realities of the digital age. As scams become more sophisticated—fueled by technologies like generative AI, which can create realistic deepfakes and voice recordings—the need for robust victim support has never been greater. Yet, governments and institutions are generally moving in the opposite direction, cutting funding at a time when investment in these services is critical.

To address this crisis, a multi-faceted approach is needed. First, governments must prioritize funding for victim support services, ensuring that organizations can meet the growing demand without compromising quality. This includes covering rising operational costs and expanding programs to reach underserved populations, such as the elderly and non-English speakers. SCARS Institute also offers Spanish language support services, and has partners in dozens of countries around the world.

Second, law enforcement agencies need better training and resources to tackle cybercrime, including international cooperation to trace and recover stolen funds. Initiatives like the Global Anti-Scam Alliance’s call for shared data across industries could enhance prevention and detection efforts, but they must be paired with support for victims after the fact.

However, nonprofits must make sure that they are using their money wisely, too. Many such nonprofits expend over 70% of their revenue on management. The SCARS Institute stands alone with 100% of it funding going to victim services, and its management are all volunteers.

Finally, societal attitudes toward scam victims must shift. Public awareness campaigns and training courses for families and friends (such as the SCARS Institute’s Scam Survivor’s School – free for victims and their families) can help dismantle the stigma, emphasizing that anyone can fall victim to a scam, regardless of age or intelligence. Encouraging victims to report crimes without fear of judgment—perhaps through anonymous reporting systems—could also increase recovery rates and deter scammers. As Eva Velasquez from the Identity Theft Resource Center notes, “A lot of times, a person isn’t only grieving the loss of their money… but grieving the loss of a relationship they thought was real.” Recognizing this dual loss can foster greater empathy and support.

Conclusion: A Path Forward for Scam Victims

Scam victims deserve better than to be abandoned by the systems meant to protect them. While the initial betrayal by a scammer is a profound wound, it is the lack of support, the stigma, and the systemic failures that often drive victims to their darkest places. By investing in support services, improving legal recourse, and changing societal narratives, we can ensure that survivors like Sarah, Robert, Elina, and Carlos are not left to navigate their trauma alone.

In an era where scams are a trillion-dollar global industry, the true measure of our humanity lies in how we support those who have been deceived—not in how we judge them.

To sign up for a free professionally managed trauma-informed Scam Victims Support & Recovery Program, visit support.AgainstScams.org

For new victims who need to learn how to get help and what to do, visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org

To enroll in the SCARS Institute’s free Scam Survivor’s School, visit www.SCARSeducation.org

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