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EnglishWhy Was Scam Victims United Created?
Updated
Scam Victims United was created because its founders, Shawn and Jeff Mosch, became victims of a Nigerian counterfeit cashier's check scam and could not find any existing support, resources, or assistance for people in their situation. After sharing their story online and through news media, they connected with other victims of the same scam across the country, and that growing community led them to build an online message group and homepage so victims could tell their stories and warn others.
The Founding Story
The organization's own account describes how the Mosches were selling a 1961 Buick and were contacted by a man who claimed to be a car dealer and wanted to buy it. That transaction turned out to be a Nigerian counterfeit cashier's check scam.
When they went looking for help as victims, they found that no such assistance existed. That gap — not just the crime itself — is what prompted them to act.
From One Story to a Network
Once the Mosches began sharing their experience through the Internet and news media, other victims of the same scam started coming forward across the country. The number of people who wanted to share their stories grew large enough that the founders:
- Created an online message group
- Built a homepage to tell their story
- Opened a space for other victims to connect
The site reports that in the first three months after the original homepage launched, it received over 12,000 hits, warned and saved more than 300 people from becoming victims, and helped stop over two million dollars from reaching the Nigerian counterfeiters. It also helped victims cope and, in some cases, recover a portion of what they lost.
What the Organization Set Out to Do
Scam Victims United describes its mission as offering support and resources to victims through message groups and networking with other victims, providing a safe environment where people can share their stories with others who have been through the same experience.
Its stated activities fall into four areas:
| Area | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Inform | Educating the public and victims about common scam tactics, with 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 share 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 |
Why This Matters If You're Looking for Help
The origin story explains the site's design: it is built around peer connection rather than a formal agency. If you are searching for scam victim support, the practical takeaway is that Scam Victims United positions itself as a community and information hub — message groups, victim stories, scam education, and reporting resources — created by people who went through the experience themselves.
The site also documents specific scam types, including ATM scams (where the FBI and police have reported entire bank accounts being drained), cashier's check scams (most common when selling something online such as a used car, motorcycle, jewelry, or even bred animals), and dinner party scams (where you are invited to a private gathering by someone you know).