Spider-Webbing in Relationship Scams and its Impact on Scam Victims – 2024

Spider-Webbing in Relationship Scams and its Impact on Scam Victims

Understanding How Scammer Manipulation, Lies, and Deceit are Woven Together into a Web that Holds Scam Victims

Primary Category: Psychology of Scams

Author:
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

“Spider-webbing” in relationship scams refers to the manipulative techniques scammers use to entangle their victims in a complex web of deceit, making it difficult for them to break free. Much like a spider methodically constructs its web to trap prey, scammers build an intricate network of emotional manipulation, fabricated relationships, and psychological control.

These tactics create a sense of dependency in the victim, isolating them from outside support and reinforcing the scammer’s hold over them. As victims become more emotionally, financially, and psychologically invested, they find it increasingly challenging to escape the web of lies, often requiring external support and professional intervention to break free.

Psychological Violence

An Overview of Why Scam Manipulation & Control are Considered Psychological Violence

Primary Category: Psychology of Scams

Author:
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

Psychological violence refers to the deliberate infliction of emotional and mental harm on an individual, often resulting in long-lasting damage to their well-being. In the context of scam victims, this type of violence manifests through the systematic grooming, manipulation, and control tactics employed by scammers.

These tactics are designed to erode the victim’s sense of self-worth, autonomy, and reality, leading to severe emotional distress. The effects of psychological violence on scam victims can include anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compounded by feelings of shame, guilt, and self-blame.

Psychological Control