• Scam Survivor Stories from SCARS Institute

Remember

  • It was not your fault!
  • You are a survivor!
  • You are stronger than you know!
  • You are not alone!
  • Axios! You are worthy!
  • Vera! It’s all true!

To get help, please visit ScamVictimsSupport.org and sign up for the SCARS Institute Support & Recovery Program at support.AgainstScams.org

My Scam Story #2

A Romance Scam Victim/Survivor’s Story

Survivor’s Origin: USA

This is the original victim’s story, enhanced by the SCARS Institute Editorial Team to improve comprehension, readability, and continuity.

ADVERTENCIA: LA HISTORIA DE ESTA VÍCTIMA/SOBREVIVIENTE DE ESTAFA PUEDE SER INSENSIBLE PARA ALGUNAS PERSONAS. SE RECOMIENDA DISCRECIÓN.

Si necesita ayuda, únase a nuestro Programa gratuito de Apoyo y Recuperación del Instituto SCARS en support.AgainstScams.org

My Story

In 2024, I was contacted twice by someone impersonating a famous American actor whom I had previously tried to contact. Given that he’s an actor, reaching the actual person is difficult, if not impossible—something I should have kept uppermost in my mind.

The first incident occurred in March 2024 via Messenger. I received a message from the “actor” thanking me for reaching out and expressing that “he” wanted to continue communicating. This online relationship lasted approximately three and a half months on Skype, evolving from friendship to something deeper. Eventually, this “celebrity” requested a phone call to discuss “his” situation. Even though I could see “him” on screen (probably AI-generated imagery), there was no voice—the call could not be completed.

“He” then asked for my help to retrieve a briefcase containing critical documents “he” needed to fight a supposed corporate takeover involving “his” wife, manager, and attorney, and to unfreeze “his” assets. I was told the briefcase needed to be shipped at a cost of $10,000, and that “he” would repay me from the cash and jewelry inside, along with documents it contained. I was given contact information for the shipping company, and the “celebrity” sent an introductory email to the company. When I discovered the company was located in Istanbul and flagged online as suspicious and used by scammers, I immediately broke all contact. That occurred in mid-June 2024.

Three weeks later, I was contacted again, this time through Instagram. Once more, the message claimed to be from the same celebrity actor, but this time it simply read, “Hey!” I stared at it for a while, even waiting an hour or so before responding. After I replied with “??”, the person explained that I was a lucky fan chosen to correspond with the celebrity. At that point, I informed this “person” that I’d previously been approached by an impersonator, that the previous experience had gone badly, and that I had reported the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Unit. I further told “him” I would report this new contact as well. The response came back confidently stating that I would never need to report “him” to the FBI because “he” was “REAL.”

Over the next three months, this new relationship quickly intensified, and I was again asked for financial help. This time, I initially didn’t notice any obvious red flags. The only unusual request that caught my attention was the insistence on gift cards. I questioned why a celebrity would ask me for gift cards, and why someone famous would need to resort to this method. When I asked “him” directly, I was told that “his” management team had complete control over his finances, investments, and all assets.

Eventually, this second “relationship” also turned negative. When the scammer tried to get me to open a business checking account to deposit “his” cryptocurrency investments, I stopped all communication immediately. This occurred on December 10, 2024.

Since then, the criminal has repeatedly attempted to re-establish contact and lure me back into compliance. Alarmingly, this individual appears able to bypass my email blocking measures, continuing to try to reach me.

SCARS Institute Notes:

-/ 30 /-

Thank You to this Scam Survivor for Their Story!
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We Will Anonymize Your Story to Help Shield Your Identity!

PLEASE NOTE: The SCARS Institute displays this story to help recent scam victims. We are authorized to display this story and in this form or edition is copyright © Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. All rights reserved. The specific survivor’s identity has been anonymized for their protection. Photos are generated and are not of the real person.

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Important Information for New Scam Victims

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

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.

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Important Information for New Scam Victims

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

SCARS Resources:

A Note About Labeling!

We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!

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.

If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.

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