Welcome to the SCARS Journal of Applied Scam, Fraud, and Cybercrime Psychology – and Allied Sciences

A dedicated site for psychology, victimology, criminology, applied sociology and anthropology, and allied sciences, published by the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

Please Note: that the articles & research studies published on this site are part of SCARS ongoing commitment to expanding knowledge, and catalog available information and research on relationship fraud, deception, cybercrime, and their victims in all of their forms. Original content is published by SCARS under copyright, and third party Research is published in conformance with the stated license or under fair use as a part of this scholarly endeavor.

The SCARS Manual of Scam Psychology

Our catalog of SCARS articles about the psychology of scams and scam victims.

The SCARS Manual of Cognitive Biases

Our SCARS catalog of cognitive biases and their effects on scam victim vulnerability and recovery. Presented from a crime victims’ impact perspective.

Featured Research & Studies

Featured research, studies, reports, and papers explore scams, scammers, and victims, probing victimology and criminology to understand scam tactics, psychological vulnerabilities, and socio-economic factors, aiming to develop strategies for prevention and protection.

SCARS Private Research Library

The SCARS Private Research Library delves into scams, scammers, and victims, encompassing victimology and criminology. Exclusive to SCARS Team Members and Partners, it provides invaluable insights for combating fraudulent activities effectively.

Latest Research & Studies

The latest research and studies on scams, scammers, and scam victims delve into victimology and criminology, offering crucial insights into understanding and combatting fraudulent activities effectively.

The Psychology of Scams, Fraud, and Cybercrime

Scams are the fastest-growing crime in today’s world. With the rise of the internet and social media, criminals have more ways than ever to reach potential victims. Scams, fraud, and cybercrime have a devastating impact on victims, both financially and emotionally.

Understanding the psychology of scams is essential for both preventing these crimes and helping the victims of cybercrime to recover from their experiences.

Understanding the psychology of scams can help us to:

• Identify and avoid scams: By understanding the common tactics and techniques used by scammers, we can be more vigilant and less likely to fall victim to a scam.
• Educate others about scams: We can share our knowledge about scams with others to help them stay safe.
• Support victims of scams: By understanding the emotional impact of scams, we can provide better support to victims and help them to recover.

Victims of scams experience a range of negative emotions, including shame, guilt, anger, and fear. They are traumatized and can suffer from many other psychological disorders and syndromes.

Understanding the psychology of scams can help professionals to help victims to realize that they are not alone and that they are not to blame for being scammed, and to guide them through their recovery. It can also help them to understand the emotional impact of scams and to develop healthy coping mechanisms.

Equally important is this allows allied professionals to better understand how the criminals operate, the techniques they use, and the societal impact of these crimes.

This is the mission of this SCARS website. To bring this knowledge together and make it accessible to anyone interested in improving the situation.