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 Post subject: Help... My Father is Addicted to scams... I want resources
PostPosted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 5:23 pm 
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Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2011 4:58 pm
Posts: 4
I stumbled upon this website today. I applaud the organizers for this space. As there is NO SUPPORT GROUPS out there for victims/ families of scammer abuse.

I am asking for any and all RESOURCES you can offer to help my father.
Specifically I'd LOVE resources to aid with his mental state of mind. He got himself into this mess by scarcity thinking and I am beside myself to know what may even come close to helping him bring himself out of it

Situation:
My father is 'caught up in Nigeria/ scams'. He seriously thinks they are honestly real... In the sense that if he pays scammer $$ hundreds of dollars (for shipping fee/ customs clearing of course) then scammer will send my father a million dollars back. aaaaahhhhhh I've been beside myself to block him at every turn to save him from squandering his $1000 social security monthly check.

I've initiated the below processes... however physical processes only stop the physical money being spent. As stated above, I would like resources to help my father with the emotional, mental part of being a scam victim... helping him to stop believing they are all real.


I have begun the following processes with my mother:
1. Social Security Info.
(Note: Social Security Administration may/ will work with families/spouses whom have a social security recipient whose caught up in fraud scams. With proper/ appropriate/ documented information social security may re-direct a social Security check to the spouse or family member for the care of the actual recipient.) Hope all this makes sense..

2. We have to keep money out of the bank account so he cannot send any wires.
3. Working with various "wire" companies to prevent/block my father from sending wires to Nigeria/ scammers. (western union, money grahm, etc)



Hope this makes sense.
Most Sincerely,
GoodFood1010


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 Post subject: Re: Help... My Father is Addicted to scams... I want resour
PostPosted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 12:24 pm 
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Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:51 am
Posts: 4
I think you're right that there aren't really any resources for Indirect Scam Victims. So, we're pretty much all on our own. Thanks for sharing your story about your father -- and the measures you have taken. I had no idea that social security or Western Union could be so helpful. I'll have to follow up on that, as my wife has started to receive social security and has already wired money to South Africa, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Ghana (and maybe others).

This scam addiction is a real addiction. It cannot be addressed by rational argument. It's a psychological problem. In the most recent scam, my wife kept telling me that all the Ghana business would be settled on September 23. I asked her to see a professional for psychological counseling if the money ($5,300,000) failed to materialize on that day, and she agreed, but only if I myself would go for professional counseling if the money actually did arrive. Well, the day has come and gone and she hasn't received one cent.

She's been doing scams now for about three years, and has sent the scammers thousands of dollars and has never received one cent. She seems to see nothing wrong with that. It's not rational. It cannot be addressed by argument. Now, every day, I remind her about going to see a professional, but she still hasn't done so. Hard to get help for her since I can't compel her to go, and the psychologists don't make house-calls.

Right now, the only thing left may be some kind of intervention. Maybe there are also legal measures.


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 Post subject: Re: Help... My Father is Addicted to scams... I want resour
PostPosted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 6:18 pm 
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Site Admin/Co-Founder

Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2003 10:09 pm
Posts: 2921
419+ wrote:
This scam addiction is a real addiction. It cannot be addressed by rational argument. It's a psychological problem.


I AGREE WITH YOU 100%
It can be like a gambling addiction

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Co-Founder of http://ScamVictimsUnited.com
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