ScamsNOW!
The SCARS Institute Magazine about Scam Victims-Survivors, Scams, Fraud & Cybercrime
The Cost Of Global Cybercrime
By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
Cybercrime is Costing Every Person on this Planet $750 per Year!
CONSIDER: Global Cybercrime Is Above USD$6 Trillion Dollars Per Year Now!
That Is $6 Trillion Dollars A Year in costs just from cybercrime! It Will Soon Pass $8 Trillion (According To Some Estimates).
Cybercrime is costing more than the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of 8 of the top 10 economies in the world!
- ◾️️ United States (GDP: 20.49 trillion)
- ◾️️ China (GDP: 13.4 trillion)
- ◾️️ Japan: (GDP: 4.97 trillion)
- ◾️️ Germany: (GDP: 4.00 trillion)
- ◾️️ United Kingdom: (GDP: 2.83 trillion)
- ◾️️ France: (GDP: 2.78 trillion)
- ◾️️ India: (GDP: 2.72 trillion)
- ◾️️ Italy: (GDP: 2.07 trillion)
- ◾️️ Brazil: (GDP: 1.87 trillion)
- ◾️️ Canada: (GDP: 1.71 trillion)
Yet, the 60+ Million scam victims pay almost no attention to the financial or political impact of cybercrime corruption or the cost.
In the next few months, there will be 8 Billion humans living on this planet.
At $6 Trillion, it will cost every one of those 8 Billion People USD$750 each per year in the hidden tax that cybercrime is costing us.
What could we do with USD$6 Trillion Dollars per year? Feed the hungry? Solve our climate crisis? Provide healthcare to everyone everywhere?
Yet, as we have seen in the recent election, cybercrime was not even mentioned. Half of the voters were more concerned with abortion rights and the climate than this issue.
Only China is taking the cybercrime issue as a real exigent threat to their nation by arresting nearly 2 million fraudsters a year (the latest estimate was 2020 of 1.9 million arrests). But the U.S. & Nigeria are the other leaders in the top 3.
To their credit, the United Kingdom is also at the forefront by reorganizing its entire law enforcement infrastructure to address cybercrime and fraud.
Global cybercrime revenue & costs are greater than drugs, human trafficking, and terrorism combined. AND ONLY CYBERCRIME has the real potential to bring down our critical infrastructure in EVERY country around the globe – it has the potential to throw us back into the dark ages and kill a significant portion of the world’s population by the hunger that would be caused by such a disruption.
In addition, cybercrime (based upon current SCARS estimates) causes more deaths a year than occurred with 9/11 – cybercrime causes about 7,300 deaths per year (mostly from suicide), but this may be an order of magnitude off – we only have limited visibility right now.
Why Isn’t Everyone Screaming About Cybercrime?
Because it is not a divisive political topic. In fact, it is a unifying political topic. Politics today is about dividing people.
THIS IS NOT A TRADITIONAL CRIME PROBLEM. THIS IS GLOBAL TERRORISM!
YOU CAN HELP SOLVE THIS. BUT WILL YOU?
SCARS needs your help to be the voice of this crisis! Will you help us? We need partners, we need supporters and donors, we need more voices! Please work with us! You can donate at http://donate.AgainstScams.org – every cent goes to help support the victims of these crimes and advocate for the global change that is needed (all SCARS personnel are volunteers.)
Also, starting on December 1st you can become a Member of SCARS and join in the fight with us!
You can help make a difference in what is happening worldwide.
This is bigger than one country, but together we can pressure politicians and governments to invest the money and the manpower to control this problem!
Will you help? Or will you stand by and see this rise to ever greater numbers?
We hope you will!
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WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT LATEST SITE COMMENTS
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on Scam Victims’ Responsibilities – 2021 [Updated 2025]: “Thank you for this article. As I continue my journey, I focus on the here and now and let the…” Jun 21, 16:26
on Scam Victims Avoid Or Escape The Aftermath Of Scams – How Denial And Distraction Avoid Confronting Reality – 2024: “In the earliest days after my crime I felt powerless, helpless and weak. I had been through so much in…” Jun 21, 14:46
on Problems and Opportunities – Thoughts on Psychological Reframing – 2025: “An article that really helped me look at the problems in my life from a different point of view and…” Jun 21, 14:42
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.
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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.
