The Cause of Scam Victims’ Trauma: Losing the Belief – the Fantasy – the Delusions
Principal Category: Psychological Trauma
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.
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Portion from the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health
The trauma experienced by scam victims results from a profound neurological, emotional, and psychological breakdown. SCARS Institute theorizes that this trauma is rooted in the realization that the trusted relationship, built through manipulation and deception, was a complete fabrication. Victims develop intense cognitive dissonance as their belief in the scammer’s sincerity clashes with the harsh truth of betrayal. This conflict shatters the victim’s worldview, leading to psychological trauma as their sense of reality crumbles. Neurologically, this emotional distress can trigger damaging changes in the brain, including neuroinflammation and a reduction in hippocampal volume, further complicating recovery.
The Cause of Trauma in Scam Victims: A Neurological, Emotional, and Psychological Breakdown
The SCARS Institute Theory of Relationship Scam Victim Psychological Trauma Activation
In other papers and articles, we have talked extensively about how betrayal trauma functions, what the onset of trauma process is like, and what are its after-effects in scam victims. However, what exactly is the actual cause of this trauma?
The SCARS Institute theory is that it is simply the realization that the fantasy or delusion of the trust relationship was a lie and that the victim is unable to reconcile this what what they know or believe they know. That it was not real. That more than the betrayal, it was all a fabrication that scam victims themselves, because of the grooming, manipulation, and control was forced on them – a violation or act of violence – that scam victims themselves developed in their own minds. This is then the source of the cognitive dissonance that develops from this incredible conflict between what the scam victim believed to be true and the devastating reality the emerges.
The trauma comes from the breakdown of the world view, and everything associated with it, that the victims held so tightly, and are psychologically unable to reconcile when the crime is revealed beyond doubt.
Also read: The Onset of Psychological Trauma and The Unique Injury Of Betrayal Trauma On Scam Victims
The Trauma
Relationship scam victims normally experience profound emotional, psychological, and neurological trauma after discovering they have been deceived. In the SCARS Institute theory, this trauma primarily arises not only from the betrayal itself but from the collapse of the trust-based relationship that the scam victim believed to be real. The emotional and psychological devastation stems from realizing that the entire foundation of their relationship, their belief in the other person, and their dreams for the future, was fabricated—a massively powerful realization that triggers a breakdown in their worldview, trust, and self-concept.
The Emotional Impact: Trust and Betrayal
At the heart of every relationship scam is a profound violation of trust.
Scam victims, targeted through romance scams or financial fraud, invest their emotions and beliefs into what they perceive to be a genuine relationship. Through grooming, manipulation, and psychological control, scammers create an illusion of trust and emotional connection. Scam victims become completely emotionally attached, believing in the authenticity of their relationship, and investing time, money, and emotions in the scammer’s lies.
When the scam is revealed, victims are forced to confront the stark reality that the relationship was a lie.
This is not merely a betrayal of trust but the destruction of an emotional bond they had created in their own minds – in effect the destruction of an identity that they held of themselves. Emotionally, this can trigger feelings of shame, guilt, humiliation, and despair. They often ask themselves, “How could I have believed this?” This sense of self-blame adds an extra layer of emotional pain to the initial trauma of betrayal.
Psychological Trauma: Cognitive Dissonance and Worldview Collapse
Psychologically, the trauma of being scammed centers around cognitive dissonance—the mental conflict that occurs when a person holds two contradictory beliefs or ideas. In the case of scam victims, this cognitive dissonance arises when they realize that the trust and emotional investment they placed in the scammer were based on a fabrication. The scammer manipulated the victim into creating a false reality in their mind, one that is shattered when the truth is uncovered.
The breakdown occurs because the victim’s worldview, particularly their beliefs about trust, relationships, and their own judgment, is suddenly destroyed. The victims are confronted with the realization that what they believed so deeply was false, and this discrepancy between belief and reality becomes emotionally and psychologically overwhelming. Scam victims experience a conflict between the truth—that they were manipulated and exploited—and the belief that they were in a meaningful trusting relationship.
This emotional and psychological conflict creates a state of extreme distress in most victims, where the victims struggle to reconcile the reality of the scam with their previous beliefs. In most cases, this leads to the activation of trauma with potentially associated symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Neurological Basis of Trauma: The Brain’s Response
The emotional and psychological impact of scams doesn’t stop at cognitive dissonance; it also affects the brain on a neurological level. When a scam victim realizes they have been deceived, their brain responds as it would to any traumatic event. The realization that their entire relationship was based on a lie activates the brain’s stress response system, which involves key structures such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex.
Amygdala Activation: The amygdala is the brain’s emotional processing center, particularly associated with fear and anxiety. When scam victims realize they have been deceived, their amygdala becomes hyperactive, generating shock, as well as feelings of fear, anger, and intense distress. This is part of the brain’s “fight-or-flight” response, which is activated by perceived threats or trauma. See The Onset of Psychological Trauma
Hippocampus and Memory: The hippocampus is responsible for forming and retrieving memories. Trauma can cause the hippocampus to function improperly, which may explain why scam victims sometimes have fragmented memories of the scam or find it difficult to recall specific details. This disruption in memory processing adds to the confusion and disorientation experienced by the victims. See below.
Prefrontal Cortex and Cognitive Control: The prefrontal cortex is involved in higher-order thinking, decision-making, and emotional regulation. When scam victims face overwhelming stress or trauma, this region of the brain can become less active, making it difficult for victims to think clearly, control their emotions, or make rational decisions. As a result, victims may find themselves trapped in cycles of rumination, guilt, and self-blame, further exacerbating their emotional trauma.
The Role of Manipulation and Grooming
Scammers are often highly skilled at manipulating their victims, using psychological techniques to build trust, foster emotional dependence, and control the victim’s thoughts and behaviors. Over time, this manipulation creates a mental and emotional framework within the victim that supports the scammer’s fabricated reality. Victims are often groomed to believe that they are in a genuine, caring relationship or that they are involved in a legitimate business opportunity.
The trauma arises when this framework collapses. Victims realize that not only were they manipulated into believing the scam, but they also played a role in constructing the false reality in their minds. This realization is deeply unsettling and leads to feelings of vulnerability, powerlessness, and a loss of control over one’s life and decisions.
The Aftermath: Psychological and Emotional Fallout
Once the scam is revealed, victims often experience a range of emotional and psychological symptoms associated with trauma. These can include:
Anxiety and Hypervigilance: Scam victims may become excessively cautious and fearful of trusting others. They may constantly worry about being deceived again, leading to heightened anxiety and difficulty forming new relationships.
Depression and Hopelessness: The loss of trust, combined with feelings of betrayal and self-blame, can lead to depression. Victims may struggle to find hope or meaning in their lives after the scam, feeling that they cannot recover from the emotional damage.
Flashbacks and Intrusive Thoughts: Victims may experience flashbacks or intrusive thoughts related to the scam, similar to what is seen in PTSD. These recurring memories can cause distress and prevent the victim from moving on.
Isolation: Many victims withdraw from social interactions, feeling embarrassed or ashamed about being scammed. This isolation can further exacerbate feelings of loneliness and depression.
Physical Damage to the Hippocampus from Trauma: Volume Reduction
Psychological trauma, particularly prolonged and severe stress, has been shown to cause physical changes in the brain, notably affecting the hippocampus. The hippocampus is a critical brain structure involved in memory formation and emotional regulation. Research has consistently demonstrated that trauma, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or without, is associated with a reduction in the volume of the hippocampus.
According to studies like the one referenced from the National Library of Medicine (PubMed), the volume of the hippocampus tends to decrease in individuals who have experienced significant psychological trauma. This reduction is thought to result from chronic exposure to stress hormones, particularly cortisol, which is released in response to the activation of the body’s stress response system. Prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol can damage hippocampal neurons, impairing the brain’s ability to form new memories and regulate emotional responses effectively.
In scam victims, this hippocampal shrinkage can manifest in various ways, including memory difficulties, problems with emotional regulation, and difficulty processing trauma-related events. Memory issues may present as fragmented or incomplete recall of the scam, while emotional regulation may be impaired, leading to heightened anxiety, depression, or a tendency to experience flashbacks. These physical changes in the hippocampus contribute to the long-term psychological distress experienced by many trauma victims.
The reduction in hippocampal volume, as demonstrated by studies like the one from the National Institute of Health, emphasizes the severe impact trauma can have on brain health, extending beyond the psychological and emotional realm into measurable physical damage within key brain structures responsible for managing stress and emotions. Recovery strategies often need to address these brain changes through therapeutic interventions aimed at promoting neural plasticity, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and other trauma-focused therapies.
What is the Hippocampus
The hippocampus is a crucial part of the brain located within the temporal lobe, playing a major role in memory formation, spatial navigation, and regulating emotions. It is essential for converting short-term memories into long-term memories and is deeply involved in learning processes.
When the hippocampus is damaged, such as by volume reduction, it can potentially lead to significant cognitive and emotional impairments. Memory loss is one of the most common consequences, including difficulties forming new memories and recalling past experiences. This damage is also often observed in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy. Specifically, trauma can lead to a reduction in hippocampal volume, making individuals more prone to problems with emotional regulation, difficulty processing new information, and increased stress sensitivity.
Over time, this damage can exacerbate conditions like depression and anxiety, as the hippocampus also interacts with other parts of the brain involved in emotional control. The reduction in size due to prolonged stress and trauma—such as in scam victims or individuals with PTSD—shows how physical changes in the brain are linked to psychological experiences.
For more detailed information, you can refer to the Cleveland Clinic: Hippocampus Overview.
NOTE: There is no definitive data to suggest that all traumatized individuals suffer from the reduction in volume of the hippocampus or other areas of the brain. However, this physical aspect of trauma underscores the importance of early professional intervention and proper therapeutic care to mitigate long-term neurological damage and support recovery.
Brain Inflammatory Responses Caused by Severe Emotional Distress: The Link to Psychological Trauma and PTSD
Severe emotional distress, such as that experienced during psychological trauma or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), has been shown to trigger inflammatory responses in the brain. Emotional trauma, particularly chronic stress, activates the body’s immune system, resulting in the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These inflammatory markers, which include molecules like interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), can infiltrate the brain and contribute to neuroinflammation.
Research highlights that when the brain experiences neuroinflammation, it can affect key regions like the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex—areas associated with memory, cognition, and emotional regulation. Chronic inflammation in these areas is linked to cognitive impairments and emotional dysregulation, common in individuals suffering from PTSD or trauma-related disorders. This inflammation can disrupt synaptic plasticity, impair neuronal function, and even lead to neural cell death, further exacerbating symptoms of trauma, such as heightened anxiety, memory disturbances, and mood instability.
The persistent state of inflammation can also worsen the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction, a system responsible for regulating stress responses. This leads to a vicious cycle where the body’s ability to manage stress deteriorates, making individuals more susceptible to anxiety, depression, and other trauma-related symptoms.
Neuroinflammation triggered by psychological trauma does not necessarily fade on its own with time, especially in cases of severe or prolonged trauma, such as PTSD. This is why engaging in traumatic stress-reducing interventions is so important.
While some levels of inflammation may naturally decrease as the initial stressor is removed, persistent or chronic stress can maintain or even worsen the inflammatory state in the brain. This prolonged inflammation has been linked to ongoing psychological and cognitive symptoms seen in trauma survivors.
The key factors affecting whether neuroinflammation fades or persists include the severity of the trauma, the duration of stress exposure, the individual’s biological response, and whether or not the individual receives any form of therapeutic intervention (psychological, psychiatric, and support.) Without treatment or coping mechanisms, neuroinflammation can linger and continue to disrupt normal brain function, leading to long-term consequences such as memory impairment, anxiety, depression, brain volume reduction, or cognitive decline.
Interventions like psychotherapy, lifestyle changes (e.g., exercise, sleep improvement), and anti-inflammatory medications have been found to help reduce neuroinflammation over time, helping to alleviate some of the negative effects on the brain and body. This highlights the importance of addressing trauma and stress through therapeutic support to promote healing.
The relationship between emotional distress and brain inflammation is an emerging field, but current findings suggest that managing inflammation through lifestyle changes or medical interventions may offer potential therapeutic benefits for trauma survivors.
This is just one of the reasons why the SCARS Institute strongly recommends that every scam victim see competent trauma therapists, a psychiatrist (as necessary for medical health and medication,) and obtain support from a professional trauma-informed provider such as the SCARS Institute.
The Path to Recovery
The trauma caused by scams is a complex interaction of emotional, psychological, and neurological factors. Victims experience cognitive dissonance, a breakdown in their worldview, and emotional turmoil as they grapple with the realization that the relationship they believed in was a lie. Neurologically, the brain’s response to trauma further deepens the emotional and psychological distress, making recovery a challenging but necessary journey.
Understanding the cause of trauma in scam victims can help them begin the process of healing. By addressing the emotional, psychological, and neurological impact of the scam, victims can work toward rebuilding trust, processing their trauma, and ultimately regaining control over their lives.
The SCARS Institute strongly recommends that every scam victim see competent trauma therapists, a psychiatrist (as necessary for medical health and medication,) and obtain support from a professional trauma-informed provider such as the SCARS Institute.
Select References
- Traumatic stress: effects on the brain
- The Association Between Brain Volumes and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Intensive Care Unit Survivors: A Preliminary Study
- Hippocampal volume deficits associated with exposure to psychological trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder in adults: a meta-analysis
- Changes in Brain Volume Associated with Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Among Youth with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- Inflammatory Markers and Brain Volume in Patients with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
- Hippocampus Overview – Cleveland Clinic
- Causes – Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Understanding the Impact of Trauma
- How does trauma haunt future generations?
Professional Note
This article, like most of what the SCARS Institute publishes is intended to help scam victims, their families, and friends, to find answers and fulfill an essential role in psychoeducation. While the work is grounded on science and research, it is not intended to present research but rather general education in most cases. This can also serve as an introduction and overview for psychologists and allied professionals unfamiliar with scam victimization and its effects on victims.
Also, please read our SCARS Institute Statement About Professional Care for Scam Victims – here
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Important Information for New Scam Victims
Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims Enroll in SCARS Scam Survivor’s School for FREE – visit www.SCARSeducation.org to register – FREE for scam victims/survivors 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 in the U.S. or Canada, or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
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!
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
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology, neurology, and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in these articles is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
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, please read our SCARS Institute Statement About Professional Care for Scam Victims – here
If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.
SCARS Resources:
- For New Victims of Relationship Scams www.ScamVictimsSupport.org
- Enroll in SCARS Scam Survivor’s School for FREE – visit www.SCARSeducation.org to register – FREE for scam victims/survivors
- 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
- Scammer Photos on ScammerPhotos.com [Not Recommended for Recent Scam Victims]
- SCARS Videos youtube.AgainstScams.org
- Self-Help Books for Scam Victims are at shop.AgainstScams.org
- Donate/Give to SCARS and help us help others at donate.AgainstScams.org
SCARS LINKS: AgainstScams.org RomanceScamsNOW.com ContraEstafas.org ScammerPhotos.com Anyscam.com ScamsNOW.com
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