How Does Scam Victims United Support Scam Victims?

Updated

Scam Victims United supports scam victims through four activities: educating the public and victims about scam tactics, guiding people toward reporting resources and trusted help for financial recovery, running message groups and networking so victims can share stories without blame or shame, and advocating with officials and ethical businesses for tougher consumer protections. It is a peer support and information resource, not a law firm or a compensation fund — the site describes assistance with recovery of "a portion" of money lost in some cases, not guaranteed restitution.

What the organization actually does

The site organizes its work into four areas:

  • Inform — Educating the public and victims about common scam tactics, and providing practical tools for action and recovery.
  • Support Recovery — Guiding individuals through financial recovery by offering reporting resources and trusted help.
  • Build Community — Creating a space where victims can share their stories, connect, and heal without blame or shame.
  • Advocate for Change — Partnering with officials and ethical businesses to push for tougher consumer protections and scam prevention.

The community piece runs mainly through online message groups and networking with other victims. According to the site, this is meant to provide "a safe environment" in which victims can share their stories with others who have been through the same experience.

Where it came from

Scam Victims United was formed by Shawn and Jeff Mosch after they became victims of a Nigerian counterfeit cashier's check scam. While looking for support and resources, they found no such assistance available for victims of that crime. After sharing their story online and through news media, they connected with other victims of the same scam across the country, which led them to create an online message group and a homepage.

The site reports that in the first three months after the original homepage launched, it received over 12,000 hits, warned and saved over 300 people from becoming victims, and helped stop over two million dollars from reaching the Nigerian counterfeiters. It also says it has helped victims cope and assisted some in recovering a portion of their losses. These are the organization's own figures, so treat them as its account of its early impact rather than independently verified results.

Types of scams it covers

The site's "Types of Scams" section describes specific schemes, including:

Scam type How the site describes it
ATM scam The FBI and police across the country are seeing people's entire bank accounts drained in ATM scams
Cashier's check Most common when you are selling something online — a used car, motorcycle, jewelry, or even bred animals
Dinner party You are typically invited to a private gathering or party by someone you know

The founders' own case — selling a 1961 Buick after posting an ad online, then being contacted by a man claiming to be a car dealer — is the cashier's check pattern in practice.

What it does not promise

Nothing on the site indicates that Scam Victims United provides legal representation, guarantees financial reimbursement, or acts as an official reporting authority. Its recovery role is described as guidance toward reporting resources and trusted help, plus peer support from people who have been through similar scams. If your goal is to file a report or pursue money formally, expect this site to point you toward resources rather than handle the case itself.

Who it is for

This resource fits you if you want to understand common scam tactics, find out where to report a scam, or talk with other victims who have experienced the same thing. It is less useful if you need a lawyer, a formal claims process, or a guaranteed route to getting money back.