Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
Welcome to the SCARS Institute, the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. We are a global nonprofit organization that assists, supports, educates, and advocates for victims of cyber-enabled crimes, particularly those targeted by relationship scams. The SCARS Institute focuses on helping to educate scam victims while working to detect, deter, and ultimately eliminate online scams in all forms.
SCARS also stands for the Scientific Center for Analysis and Research into Scams™. It is dedicated to studying victimology and criminology through the lens of scam-related trauma. The organization is committed to understanding what scam victims experience, how these crimes unfold, and what effective recovery truly requires.
The primary mission of the SCARS Institute is to help scam victims recover from the trauma of the crime and reduce their risk of being victimized again. The organization also educates the public about cyber-enabled crimes, including socially engineered scams, to prevent further harm.
Founded in 2015 by an international team of professionals, the SCARS Institute continues to be led by individuals who understand the realities of scam victimization. Many of them have experienced it personally. The SCARS Institute exists to help victims become survivors.
We invite all scam survivors, their family, and advocates and professionals to enroll in our free Scam Survivor’s School at www.SCARSeducation.org
Why was the SCARS Institute, Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc., created?
Scam victims were not receiving the right message in time to avoid being defrauded. After the scam, many turned to the wrong sources for support, which prevented them from recovering successfully from the trauma. A new professional approach was required, based on methods that have consistently worked in other areas of victim recovery.
There was a need for professionalization, structure, occupational standards, and a deep understanding of the relationship scam experience. The response had to move beyond the rage, amateurism, and vigilantism that were too common among informal groups. Scam victims needed reliable support grounded in science, experience, and ethical standards. Society needed a credible voice to speak out against cyber-enabled online fraud. The SCARS Institute was created to provide that voice and to help victims recover, rebuild, and protect themselves from future harm.
Enroll NOW in the SCARS Institute Scam Survivor’s School!
It’s FREE For Your Recovery!
Visit SCARSeducation.org to enroll today!
SCARS Resources
The Professional Advocate’s Creed!
Victim advocacy professionals empower survivors of crime through ethical practice and by promoting safety, healing, justice, and the rights of victims.
As with all service-based professions, core values guide and unify those who commit themselves to this work.
SCARS operates with a clear foundation in these principles and remains fully aligned with them in all aspects of its advocacy mission. Learn more here!
Next Things to Learn – the Next Steps
- New Scam Victims – the Importance of Starting Off Right
- Importance for Scam Victims to Join a Professionally Managed Support & Recovery Group
- Join a Free Safe & Confidential SCARS Support & Recovery Group Now
- Importance of Learning for Scam Victims Recovering from Scams
- Importance of Trauma Therapy for Scam Victims
- Importance of Scam Victims Avoiding the Vigilante Trap
- Essential Information for New Scam Victims
2025 Major SCARS Institute Campaigns & Programs
FREE FOR SCAM VICTIM-SURVIVORS & THEIR FAMILIES
SCARS Institute Scam Survivor’s School
SCARS Institute’s FREE Scam Survivor’s Learning Course
Our revolutionary unique SCARS Institute Scam Survivor’s School will help scam victims like never before to recover from their experience. This course provides features not available in any other scam victims’ program.
Learn more or enroll at www.SCARSeducation.org
STAND Against Corruption
SCARS Institute’s STAND Against Corruption Campaign
Coming July 2025
End Scam Victim Blaming
Campaign To End Scam Victim Blaming
A Global Campaign To Address Misunderstandings About Relationship Scam Causes
Don’t Blame The Scam/Fraud Victims!
Learn more at blaming.ScamVictimSupport.org
The Plague Of Transnational Cybercrime
$8+ Trillion US$ Dollars
Estimated Losses To Cybercrime 2025
3,000,000+
Estimated Number Of Professional Cybercriminals Operating Worldwide
21 Million New Victims in 2023
New Scam Victims in the United States in 2023 per Gallup Poll
Over 100,000,000+
Estimated Number of Scam Victims Worldwide
Values are based upon published news, law enforcement, government, and industry data compiled by SCARS|ANALYTICS
Welcome To Our Society! Welcome to the SCARS Institute™
We are a crime victims’ assistance nonprofit organization based in Miami, Florida, U.S.A. since 2015, but with nearly 30 years of experience addressing socially engineered cyber-enabled crime and its victims.
We Focus On Supporting Scam Victims Through Education!
The Society focuses on trust-based scams, fraud, and cybercrime victims, with primary attention on relationship scams, also known as romance, dating, love, or sweetheart scams, and crypto-based investment scams. It also addresses related scam attacks targeting individuals in their personal lives and businesses, including phishing and business email compromise (BEC) scams.
Fraudsters target adults, the elderly, and increasingly children, teens, and young adults. They exploit all races and genders, using racism and gender bias to heighten vulnerability.
These organized criminals operate within large-scale transnational criminal enterprises. Some of these groups fund and support terrorist organizations such as ISIS, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, Hamas, and others. Certain operations employ thousands of individuals. Current estimates place the number of professional scammers worldwide at more than 3 million.
11 Years
SCARS Institute Support & Recovery Program Operation
10,694,478
Since 2015 – Actual Number Of Scam Victims Supported By SCARS Since Founding In 2015 As Of March 1, 2025
Fortunately, global law enforcement agencies have increased their operations and are arresting scammers in record numbers each year.
The Society directs its primary efforts toward delivering professional crime victim assistance and support for scam victims through education. In addition to this direct service, the organization leads global advocacy initiatives, working with governments and law enforcement to help reshape the legal landscape and enable more effective enforcement. Its ongoing research, analysis, training, and publishing activities contribute to public education by helping individuals avoid scams and improve their online safety practices. We also provide substantial professional training and development.
The SCARS Institute also serves as a key online crime reporting center, distributing cybercrime data to stakeholders and agencies around the world. Learn more about reporting at reporting.AgainstScams.org
Scams represent a serious global threat that demands professional solutions. The SCARS Institute is committed to delivering solutions with expertise and integrity.
SCARS Institute™ is the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. helping to build a world without online crime. But we need your help! Volunteer to help SCARS help other scam victims!
Always look for the SCARS Seal as your assurance of professionalism, ethics, and integrity in assisting victims of financial fraud and online crime.
U.S. State of Florida Nonprofit Charitable Registration #N20000011978 [SCARS DBA Registered #G20000137918 // Scam Survivors United DBA Registered #G23000086919] – Click Here To Confirm Previously incorporated in the State of Delaware.
Address Of Record: Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc., 9561 Fontainebleau Blvd., Suite 602, Miami, Florida 33166 U.S.A.
Please help everyone by reporting all scammers – reporting.AgainstScams.org