Indoctrination Of Scam Victims By Their Scammers? Yes! – 2024

Indoctrination Of Scam Victims By Their Scammers? Yes!

Indoctrination is often Poorly Understood, but Criminals use it extensively in conducting their Scams

Psychology of Scams

Authors:
• Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

Scam victims often undergo a form of psychological indoctrination, a process of systematic manipulation aimed at shaping their beliefs and behaviors, though it’s not identical to traditional indoctrination methods. This manipulation occurs through various tactics such as control of information, social influence, emotional manipulation, and reinforcement, often within the context of a romantic relationship or financial scheme.

Scammers exploit victims’ vulnerabilities, instilling false beliefs like urgency, trust, loyalty, and more to perpetuate their scams. Gaslighting and negative indoctrination tactics further entrench victims, making them resistant to questioning Read More …

SCARS Editorial Team2024-04-19T01:03:29-04:00April 19th, 2024|Categories: Tim McGuinness PhD, • PSYCHOLOGY, 2024, ARTICLE, Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych)|Tags: Brainwashing, Indoctrinate, Indoctrination, Relationship Scams, Scam Victims, Scammers|

‘Mental Defeat’ – The Unique Condition Of Giving Up – 2024

‘Mental Defeat’ – The Unique Condition Of Giving Up

A Complete Breakdown of Resilience – Beyond Denial and Resignation

Scam Victim Recovery Psychology

Authors:
• Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

In the face of overwhelming adversity, mental defeat can be a profound human response, marking a breakdown in resilience and coping mechanisms. Whether triggered by encountering a superior force, falling victim to a scam, or experiencing betrayal, the shock of defeat can lead individuals to completely give up.

This reaction stems from our primal instincts and emotional responses, often leaving us feeling powerless and overwhelmed. The freeze response, similar to encountering a predator in the wild, can cause individuals to assume subservience, lasting far longer than the initial threat.

The Butterfly Effect And Scam Victims – 2024

The Butterfly Effect And Scam Victims

Helping Scam Victims Understand the Causes and Effects that Create Vulnerability and Impact Recovery

An Insight into 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 Butterfly Effect theory underscores the profound and unpredictable consequences that small variations in initial conditions can have on individuals victimized by scams. Originating from chaos theory, it highlights the interconnectedness of complex systems and their sensitivity to minor changes.

In the context of scams, awareness of initial conditions like vulnerability, trust, and financial stability can inform prevention efforts and support for victims.

SCARS Editorial Team2024-03-17T04:20:23-04:00March 17th, 2024|Categories: • PSYCHOLOGY, • FEATURED ARTICLE, 2024, ARTICLE, Tim McGuinness PhD|Tags: Butterfly Effect, Psychology of Scams, Relationship Scams, Scam Victims, Victim Recovery|

The Unique Injury Of Betrayal Trauma On Scam Victims – 2024

The Unique Injury Of Betrayal Trauma On Scam Victims

A Cornerstone of Relationship Scams & Essential to Scam Victim Recovery

Understanding Scam Victim Trauma – Recovery Psychology

Authors:
• Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

Betrayal trauma, often experienced in relationship scams like romance fraud, inflicts deep emotional wounds on victims. It involves a profound breach of trust by someone close, triggering intense emotional responses and brain alterations. Victims experience a rollercoaster of emotions—disbelief, anger, sadness, and shame.

The relational aspect sets it apart from other traumas, impacting trust and self-worth.

Betrayal trauma impairs various brain regions, including the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, mirror neuron system, insula, temporoparietal junction, and striatum.

Victims struggle with empathy, emotional regulation, and social perception. This trauma disrupts Read More …

SCARS Editorial Team2024-03-09T15:35:43-05:00March 9th, 2024|Categories: • PSYCHOLOGY, • FEATURED ARTICLE, 2024, ARTICLE, Tim McGuinness PhD, Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych)|Tags: Betrayal Trauma, Relationship Scams, Romance Scam, Scam Victims, Victim Trauma|

The Scam Victims Need To Feel Special And How Scammers Exploit This Vulnerability – 2024

The Scam Victims Need To Feel Special And How Scammers Exploit This Vulnerability

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

About This Article

In today’s online world, individuals seeking companionship often become susceptible to the deceptive tactics employed by relationship scammers. These scammers exploit their scam victims’ inherent desire to feel special and wanted by meticulously crafting personas designed to lure in and capture their targets.

Through careful grooming, scammers establish trust and dependency, creating an illusion of authenticity to conceal their true criminal intentions. The consequences for those ensnared in these schemes can be dire, leading to betrayal, heartbreak, and significant emotional trauma. Understanding this psychological vulnerability and others that make prospect scam victims susceptible to exploitation is paramount in combating these scams, enabling scam victims to both recover from these crimes but also to avoid future scams.

SCARS Editorial Team2024-02-29T17:00:08-05:00February 29th, 2024|Categories: • PSYCHOLOGY, • FOR SCAM VICTIMS, 2024, ARTICLE, Tim McGuinness PhD|Tags: Relationship Scams, Romance Scams, Scam Victims, Scammers, Vulnerability|

Scam Victims Guide To Do-It-Yourself EFT Tapping – 2024

Scam Victims’ Guide To Do-It-Yourself EFT Tapping

Helping Scam Victims Along the Path to Reducing Stress and Trauma

Authors:
• Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) tapping offers scam victims a self-help tool for managing stress and trauma. Combining elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine and psychology, tapping involves stimulating specific acupressure points while focusing on emotional issues related to the scam experience.

By addressing disruptions in the body’s energy system, tapping aims to alleviate emotional distress and negative thought patterns. While SCARS shares this technique as a potential aid, it advises consulting with a therapist before starting.

SCARS Editorial Team2024-02-27T07:02:04-05:00February 27th, 2024|Categories: • PSYCHOLOGY, • FEATURED ARTICLE, 2024, ARTICLE, Tim McGuinness PhD, Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych)|Tags: EFT Tapping, Relationship Scams, Scam Victims, Self-Help, Victim Education, Victim Recovery|

Scam Victims Guide To Do-It-Yourself Exposure Therapy – 2024

Scam Victims Guide To Do-It-Yourself Exposure Therapy

Helping Scam Victims Along the Path to Forgiveness and Recovery

Authors:
• Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

This article offers an approach to help scam victims navigate the complex emotions and challenges they face in the aftermath of a scam. By employing self-help acclimation or exposure therapy techniques, victims can begin on a path toward forgiveness and recovery.

Exposure therapy, a well-established psychological treatment, involves gradually confronting distressing stimuli or memories to reduce fear and anxiety responses. Adapted for scam victims, this approach aids in processing the trauma and rebuilding trust in oneself and others. Self-guided exposure techniques, such as learning, journaling, support, and visualization exercises, enable victims to confront their Read More …

SCARS Editorial Team2024-02-26T09:30:18-05:00February 26th, 2024|Categories: • PSYCHOLOGY, • FEATURED ARTICLE, 2024, ARTICLE, Tim McGuinness PhD, Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych)|Tags: Acclimation, Exposure Therapy, Relationship Scams, Scam Victims, Self-Help, Victim Education, Victim Recovery|

Motivation & Scam Victims – 2024

Motivation & Scam Victims

Understanding What Motivates Scam Victims During and After the Scam

Authors:
• Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

The article delves into the intricate web of motivations that drive individuals, particularly scam victims, exploring both intrinsic and extrinsic drivers such as emotional connection, financial gain, and the quest for achievement and power.

It explaions how scammers exploit these motivations, weaving deceptive narratives to manipulate victims during and after the scam. By understanding the psychological underpinnings of victimization, individuals can recognize red flags, reclaim their power, and embark on a path to recovery.

SCARS Editorial Team2024-02-01T20:01:07-05:00February 1st, 2024|Categories: • PSYCHOLOGY, • FEATURED ARTICLE, 2024, ARTICLE, Tim McGuinness PhD, Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych)|Tags: Motivation, Needs & Desires, Relationship Scams, Romance Scams, Scam Victims, Vulnerabilities|

Trust: Romance Scams Betrayal And Scam Victims – 2024

Betrayal And The Destruction Of Trust In Scam Victims

Scam Victim Psychology & Recovery

Authors:
• Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

Article Abstract

Romance scams inflict profound emotional and psychological harm, far exceeding mere financial loss. This paper delves into the neurochemical basis of trust formation and the devastating repercussions when that trust is violently betrayed. We explore the brain regions, hormones, and neurotransmitters involved in building intimacy, and the cascade of negative effects triggered by its shattering.

SCARS Editorial Team2024-01-23T22:15:37-05:00January 10th, 2024|Categories: • PSYCHOLOGY, 2024, ARTICLE, Tim McGuinness PhD, Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych)|Tags: Betrayal, Relationship Scams, Romance Scams, Scam Victims, Trust|

Magic & Relationship Scams – Both Involve Similar Manipulation & Control – 2023

Magic & Relationship Scams – Both Involve Similar Manipulation & Control

Lessons Learned From Magic In How Scammers Manipulate Scam Victims Into and During Relationship Scams

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

Just Like Scammers, Magic Relies On Significant Manipulation & Control

In fact, what we call magic today began in ancient history as methods to scam people from their wealth

Magic tricks and relationship scams may seem worlds apart, but both rely on intricate psychological manipulation techniques to achieve their ends.

While magic aims to entertain and amaze through illusion, relationship scams prey on emotions and trust, resulting in deceit and exploitation.

Let’s explore the parallels and differences in the manipulation techniques employed in both scenarios.

SCARS Editorial Team2023-12-24T00:51:46-05:00December 23rd, 2023|Categories: • PSYCHOLOGY, • FEATURED ARTICLE, 2023, ARTICLE, Tim McGuinness PhD|Tags: Control, Magic, Manipulation, Relationship Scams, Scam Victims, Scammers|

A Temporoparietal Junction (RTPJ/LTPJ) Theory Of Relationship Scams – 2023

A Temporoparietal Junction (RTPJ/LTPJ) Theory Of Relationship Scams

Understanding how Scam Victim’s Core Beliefs are Manipulated

Psychology of Scams

By:
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Vianey Gonzalez – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

The right and left temporoparietal junction (RTPJ/LTPJ) of the human brain, crucial in social cognition, empathy, and narrative processing, may play a role in trusting narratives told by scammers in relationship scams. Scammers exploit this region by crafting stories that activate empathy and trust, manipulating victims into believing false narratives.

This activation may inhibit victims’ acceptance of the scam, creating inner conflict. Additionally, psychological trauma may alter RTPJ/LTPJ function, affecting emotion processing and self-awareness.

Indoctrination Of Scam Victims By Their Scammers? Yes!

Indoctrination is often Poorly Understood, but Criminals use it extensively in conducting their Scams

Psychology of Scams

About This Article

‘Mental Defeat’ – The Unique Condition Of Giving Up

A Complete Breakdown of Resilience – Beyond Denial and Resignation

Scam Victim Recovery Psychology

About This Article

The Butterfly Effect And Scam Victims

Helping Scam Victims Understand the Causes and Effects that Create Vulnerability and Impact Recovery

An Insight into 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 Unique Injury Of Betrayal Trauma On Scam Victims

A Cornerstone of Relationship Scams & Essential to Scam Victim Recovery

Understanding Scam Victim Trauma – Recovery Psychology

About This Article

The Scam Victims Need To Feel Special And How Scammers Exploit This Vulnerability

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

About This Article

Scam Victims’ Guide To Do-It-Yourself EFT Tapping

Helping Scam Victims Along the Path to Reducing Stress and Trauma

About This Article

Scam Victims Guide To Do-It-Yourself Exposure Therapy

Helping Scam Victims Along the Path to Forgiveness and Recovery

About This Article

Motivation & Scam Victims

Understanding What Motivates Scam Victims During and After the Scam

About This Article

Betrayal And The Destruction Of Trust In Scam Victims

Scam Victim Psychology & Recovery

Article Abstract

Magic & Relationship Scams – Both Involve Similar Manipulation & Control

Lessons Learned From Magic In How Scammers Manipulate Scam Victims Into and During Relationship Scams

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

Just Like Scammers, Magic Relies On Significant Manipulation & Control

In fact, what we call magic today began in ancient history as methods to scam people from their wealth

A Temporoparietal Junction (RTPJ/LTPJ) Theory Of Relationship Scams

Understanding how Scam Victim’s Core Beliefs are Manipulated

Psychology of Scams

By: • Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. • Vianey Gonzalez – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

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

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

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

By:
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Vianey Gonzalez – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.