---
title: "What Really Are Vulnerabilities That Lead To Scams?"
canonical: https://scampsychology.org/what-really-are-vulnerabilities-that-lead-to-scams/
type: post
author: "SCARS Research Team"
published: 2023-07-20
modified: 2023-07-20
categories: ["• PDF", "• ARTICLE", "• VICTIM PSYCHOLOGY", "• VICTIMOLOGY", "♦ FEATURED RESEARCH", "2023"]
summary: ""
organization: "Official SCARS Institute Journal of Scam Psychology & Recoverology"
organization_url: https://scampsychology.org/
llms: https://scampsychology.org/llms.txt
---

# What Really Are Vulnerabilities That Lead To Scams?

# What Really Are Vulnerabilities That Lead To Scams?

### Principal Category: Victimology

##### Authors: Tim McGuinness, Ph.D.

##### Date: July 15, 2023

##### DOI LINK: N/A

##### LICENSE:  CC BY-NC-ND

##### Source: [(PDF) What Really Are Vulnerabilities That Lead To Scams? (researchgate.net)](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372482189_What_Really_Are_Vulnerabilities_That_Lead_To_Scams)

## Abstract:

We often talk about victim vulnerabilities as though they magically explain everything about why people are victimized by scams & financial fraud. But what are they really?

The purpose of this article is to help all scam victims and their families and friends to understand that vulnerabilities can be varied, that many are just part of being human, and that the victim should never be blamed for their vulnerabilities. The simple fact is that everyone can be scammed, and eventually, everyone will be, it only depends on the right time and the right story.

This is not intended to be an exhaustive study of all the potential vulnerabilities that people have, but to give insights that can help victims feel less shame and guilt. After all, we all have our own vulnerabilities!

A vulnerability, in general, refers to a state of being susceptible to harm, damage, or exploitation.

## Research Study/Article/Document

https://scampsychology.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Vulnerabilities-A-SCARS-Whitepaper-.pdf