• 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 #4

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 Scam Story

The scammers contacted me by phone while I was reviewing homework. At the time, I was assisting two professors, overwhelmed by work, and frequently sleep-deprived, averaging just 5–6 hours of sleep per night. This left me tired and distracted, creating a vulnerability the scammers exploited.

They impersonated representatives from my bank, accurately mimicking the professional tone and demonstrating knowledge of my name and account details. I was unaware that my bank had stopped contacting customers by phone—a critical vulnerability that left me unsuspecting.

They informed me I was eligible for a prize due to accumulated credit card points, offering assistance in redeeming it. Although the number of points they mentioned exceeded my actual balance—a significant red flag—I overlooked this discrepancy. The scammers instructed me to check a notification in my banking app; however, no notification appeared, as the app doesn’t retain messages older than a month. To maintain credibility, they then “transferred” me to another representative, convincingly simulating a call center environment.

Since the notification wasn’t available, they guided me through applying for a loan, claiming they could internally adjust the system to reflect the funds as prize money rather than debt—another red flag I failed to notice. After the loan was approved, they continued to distract me, directing me to transfer funds between my accounts repeatedly, which should have seemed suspicious.

Eventually, they requested I generate codes for cardless ATM withdrawals and dictated that I read these aloud to an automated system. By this point, I was so overwhelmed and fatigued that I failed to recognize the illogical nature of the situation.

They instructed me not to use my banking app for the remainder of the day, claiming they needed time to finalize adjustments, and promised a follow-up call the next day. Later that afternoon, I received an email perfectly replicating my bank’s customer service survey, complete with a convincing sender address, further reinforcing the illusion of legitimacy.

The following day, they called again, asking me to generate and provide additional ATM withdrawal codes, which I did. After this interaction, they ceased all contact. When I finally accessed my banking app later, I discovered the loan money was gone. Attempts to call back the scammers failed, as their phone number had been disconnected.

I immediately contacted my bank, which confirmed they no longer reached out to customers via phone and that no such promotion existed. It was clear I had been defrauded. The bank secured my accounts, but the money had already been withdrawn at multiple ATMs. Since all transactions originated from my phone, which had not been physically compromised, there was no evidence of external fraud, leaving me fully responsible for repaying the loan.

Looking back, I recall speaking to two women and interacting with an automated system, all carefully crafted to replicate an authentic call center experience. A few days later, I learned that scammers often fake call centers using sophisticated tools and techniques, convincingly simulating legitimate customer interactions to deceive victims.

SCARS Institute Notes:

-/ 30 /-

Thank You to this Scam Survivor for Their Story!
Please Share YOUR Story Here!
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