Why Do Scam Victims Need to Look at Scammer Photos // ¿Por qué las Víctimas de Estafas Deben Mirar las Fotos de los Estafadores?
Why Do Some Scam Victims Tend to Frequently Look at the Photos that Scammers Used to Create Fake Profiles?
Por Que las Víctimas de Estafa Tienden a Ver Frecuentemente las Fotos Que Utilizaban los Estafadores para Hacer los Perfiles Falsos?
Primary Category: Scam Victim Recovery Psychology // Psicología de la Recuperación
Intended Audience: Scam Victims-Survivors / Family & Friends
Authors:
• Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Licensed Psychologist Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
About this Article // Acerca de este Artículo
Scam victims often revisit the stolen photos used in the deception, driven by a mix of emotional and psychological needs. For some, it’s about closure—trying to understand what happened and how they were manipulated. For others, it stems from trauma, obsession, or a need for validation. Viewing the photos can trigger painful memories, fuel rumination, or act as proof to others that the relationship was real, even if it was fraudulent. These behaviors, while not always healthy, reflect the complex ways victims process betrayal and loss. Understanding these reactions helps advocates provide compassionate, informed support.
Las víctimas de estafas a menudo vuelven a ver las fotos robadas utilizadas durante el engaño, impulsadas por necesidades emocionales y psicológicas. Para algunas, se trata de cerrar el ciclo y entender qué ocurrió y cómo fueron manipuladas. Para otras, está relacionado con el trauma, la obsesión o la necesidad de validación. Ver las fotos puede reactivar recuerdos dolorosos, alimentar la rumiación o servir como prueba de que la relación fue real, aunque haya sido fraudulenta. Estas conductas, aunque no siempre sean saludables, reflejan la forma compleja en que las víctimas procesan la traición y la pérdida. Comprender estas reacciones ayuda a los defensores a brindar un apoyo compasivo y adecuado.
Why Do Some Scam Victims Tend to Frequently Look at the Photos that Scammers Used to Create Fake Profiles?
In English (translated from Spanish)
Over the years, we’ve learned that all scam victims react differently to the experience of being a victim of fraud. It depends a lot on who we are, our environment, and our past.
A Common Pattern Among Victims
But what we have seen—one thing many victims have in common—is that they frequently look for those stolen photos. Like everything else, not all of them have the same reasons for doing so. The fact that scam victims repeatedly view the photos used by scammers is connected to several complex psychological and emotional factors. Some of these may include the need for closure and understanding.
Searching for Answers and Closure
In these cases, victims often search for answers and try to make sense of what happened to them. Viewing the photos can be a way of piecing together the experience and understanding how they were conned. There is a desire to “see the enemy” and try to understand who scammed them and how.
Trauma and Emotional Reliving
On the other hand, a factor that may stop some from viewing these photos is trauma and reliving. Scams can be deeply traumatic. All types of scams are. Victims may experience feelings of betrayal, shame, and pain. Viewing the photos can trigger traumatic memories and relive the negative emotions associated with the scam.
This may be similar to how someone dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder re-experiences events and feels the need to relive them as a way of reminding themselves—and harshly blaming themselves—for what happened. Another factor may be trauma itself.
Obsession and Rumination
Victims may begin to obsess about the scam, constantly thinking about what happened and trying to find a way to recover what was lost. Viewing the photos can become part of this cycle of rumination, feeding the obsession and prolonging the suffering. Obviously, we are not saying this is the right thing to do—but we understand that it can be the way a victim copes with the experience and trauma caused by the scam.
The Need for Validation
Others tend to look at the photographs in search of validation. For some victims, this can mean extreme validation—trying to prove to others that they were deceived and that they were not naive. Showing the photos becomes part of this process, a way of demonstrating to others that they were victims.
Struggling to Accept Reality
Another factor may be the difficulty in accepting reality. Accepting that the relationship or situation they experienced was entirely false is very difficult, and it may take time for the brain to fully accept this truth. In that context, seeing the photos can be a way of trying to make reality align with memory.
The repeated viewing of the fake photos can be one of the different symptoms of the trauma of having been a victim of fraud. We understand that having been a victim of a scam is something difficult to process, it is something that takes time, we understand that each and every one deals with this experience in the way that they can or believe that they should, but in the experience that we have had over the years we can say that the best way to overcome it is not by looking at the photos and constantly hurting yourself by reliving those memories, the best way to overcome it is by seeking professional help, by looking at institutions like scars where they can help you overcome it from knowledge … from education, information and above all the support of people who are committed to the main objective, which is to help you overcome the experience of having been a victim of a scam.
Por Que las Víctimas de Estafa Tienden a Ver Frecuentemente las Fotos Que Utilizaban los Estafadores para Hacer los Perfiles Falsos?
En español
A lo largo de los años, hemos aprendido que todas las víctimas de estafas reaccionan de manera diferente a la experiencia de haber sido víctimas de fraude. Depende mucho de quiénes somos, nuestro entorno y nuestro pasado.
Un patrón común entre las víctimas
Pero lo que hemos visto —una cosa que muchas víctimas tienen en común— es que tienden a buscar con frecuencia esas fotos robadas. Como todo lo demás, no todas lo hacen por las mismas razones. El hecho de que las víctimas de estafa vean repetidamente las fotos utilizadas por los estafadores está relacionado con varios factores psicológicos y emocionales complejos. Algunos de estos pueden incluir la necesidad de cerrar el ciclo y comprender lo que ocurrió.
Buscar respuestas y cierre emocional
En estos casos, las víctimas suelen buscar respuestas e intentan darle sentido a lo que les pasó. Ver las fotos puede ser una forma de reconstruir la experiencia y tratar de entender cómo fueron engañadas. Existe el deseo de “ver al enemigo” y entender quién las estafó y cómo lo hizo.
Trauma y revivir emocionalmente la experiencia
Por otro lado, un factor que puede impedir que algunas personas vean estas fotos es el trauma y la reexperimentación. Las estafas pueden ser profundamente traumáticas. Todos los tipos de estafas lo son. La víctima puede experimentar sentimientos de traición, vergüenza y dolor. Ver las fotos puede desencadenar recuerdos traumáticos y revivir las emociones negativas asociadas con la estafa.
Esto puede parecerse a cómo una persona que sufre de trastorno de estrés postraumático revive esas experiencias y siente la necesidad de repetirlas constantemente, como una forma de recordarse lo sucedido y culparse duramente por lo ocurrido. Otro factor puede ser el propio trauma.
Obsesión y rumiación
Las víctimas pueden comenzar a obsesionarse con la estafa, pensando constantemente en lo que pasó e intentando encontrar una manera de recuperar lo perdido. Ver las fotos puede convertirse en parte de este ciclo de rumiación, alimentando la obsesión y prolongando el sufrimiento. Obviamente, no estamos diciendo que sea lo correcto, pero entendemos que es la forma en que algunas víctimas procesan la experiencia y el trauma causado por la estafa.
La necesidad de validación
Otras personas tienden a mirar las fotografías en busca de validación. Para algunas víctimas, esto puede significar una validación extrema —tratar de demostrar a otros que fueron engañadas y que no fueron ingenuas. Mostrar las fotos se convierte en parte de ese proceso de validación, una forma de hacer evidente que fueron víctimas.
La dificultad de aceptar la realidad
Otro factor puede ser la dificultad de aceptar la realidad. Aceptar que la relación o situación vivida fue completamente falsa es muy difícil, y puede tomar tiempo para que el cerebro asimile esa verdad. En ese contexto, ver las fotos puede ser una forma de intentar que la realidad coincida con los recuerdos.
Scam Victim Trigger Warning: Real Criminal Scammer Photos
If you are a scam victim, please be aware that viewing photos of scammers—whether they are the actual criminals or stolen images used during the scam—can be emotionally distressing. These images may trigger strong reactions such as anxiety, anger, grief, or shame, especially if they are connected to a traumatic experience you’re still processing. For many victims, seeing these photos brings back painful memories or reactivates feelings of betrayal, confusion, or self-blame.
We strongly advise discretion when choosing to view such content. If you’re in recovery or feeling emotionally vulnerable, it may be best to avoid these images altogether or view them only with trusted support present. Your emotional safety matters. There is no need to retraumatize yourself in an effort to “face the truth” or seek validation. Healing doesn’t require you to expose yourself to material that may destabilize your progress. Please take care and put your well-being first.
Advertencia para Víctimas de Estafa: Fotos Reales de Estafadores Criminales
Si eres una víctima de estafa, ten en cuenta que ver fotos de estafadores—ya sean imágenes reales de los criminales o fotos robadas que usaron durante la estafa—puede causar una fuerte reacción emocional. Estas imágenes pueden desencadenar sentimientos intensos como ansiedad, enojo, tristeza o vergüenza, especialmente si están relacionadas con una experiencia traumática que aún estás procesando. Para muchas víctimas, ver estas fotos revive recuerdos dolorosos o reactiva emociones de traición, confusión o culpa.
Recomendamos encarecidamente tener discreción al decidir ver este tipo de contenido. Si estás en proceso de recuperación o te sientes emocionalmente vulnerable, puede ser mejor evitar estas imágenes por completo o verlas solo en compañía de alguien de confianza. Tu bienestar emocional es importante. No necesitas volver a traumatizarte para “enfrentar la verdad” o buscar validación. Sanar no requiere exponerte a material que pueda afectar tu estabilidad. Por favor, cuida de ti mismo y prioriza tu bienestar.
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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 or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.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
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.
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 to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to 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 Resources:
- Getting Started: ScamVictimsSupport.org
- FREE enrollment in the SCARS Institute training programs for scam victims SCARSeducation.org
- For New Victims of Relationship Scams newvictim.AgainstScams.org
- Subscribe to SCARS Newsletter newsletter.againstscams.org
- Sign up for SCARS professional support & recovery groups, visit support.AgainstScams.org
- Find competent trauma counselors or therapists, visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
- Become a SCARS Member and get free counseling benefits, visit membership.AgainstScams.org
- Report each and every crime, learn how to at reporting.AgainstScams.org
- Learn more about Scams & Scammers at RomanceScamsNOW.com and ScamsNOW.com
- Learn more about the Psychology of Scams and Scam Victims: ScamPsychology.org
- Self-Help Books for Scam Victims are at shop.AgainstScams.org
- Worldwide Crisis Hotlines: International Suicide Hotlines – OpenCounseling : OpenCounseling
- Campaign To End Scam Victim Blaming – 2024 (scamsnow.com)
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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What do you think about this?
Please share your thoughts in a comment below!
It is true that each victim-survivor experience is different based on past, environment and upbringing. Throughout my recovery journey so far, I’ve not had an inkling of an urge to look at photos of scammers fake or real. To me, the fake photos are victims, as I am a victim. Only their nightmares have no ending. The real ones, pictures of scammers arrested for their transgressions, born into a society that are inexplicably complex, vile, and compromised, have a nightmare of their own making. My goal is to continue to grow, evolve, and be the person I was meant to be. It is true that through it all, the circle of life is just philosophy.
May I be safe, healthy and happy. May all beings be filled with love, kindness and peace.
Your experience is different because of 2 major factors: 1) your personal mental orientation to get the help that you need – most victims do not do that; 2) the support you are receiving.