Scammer Accountability Begins with Ending Victim Blaming

Scammers steal billions of dollars from consumers every year. The impact can be financially and emotionally devastating for victims, especially older ones, and their families.

Their devastation is often magnified by something that victims of many other crimes don’t typically experience: shame. Why? While most of us don’t intend any harm, the language we tend to use when discussing scams and frauds often blames victims. We might suggest that someone who loses money in a scam was naïve or stupid, or ask them, “What were you thinking?” if they engaged with a scammer.

Even victims ― when they aren't too ashamed to discuss their experience ― use words that criticize themselves (“I was tricked,” for example) when describing the crime.

The reality is that no one is immune to scams and frauds, which are growing more pervasive and sophisticated, and their victims deserve the dignity and sympathy we grant people who experience other kinds of crimes. 

Blame should be directed at the true perpetrator: the criminal carrying out the scam. 

Changing the narrative

AARP believes that it’s crucial to change the language we all use when talking about or to people who experience scams and fraud. That’s why the AARP Fraud Watch NetworkTM is spearheading a nationwide campaign to remove the shame and blame from discussions of these crimes. 

You can help create an environment in which victims don't feel judged by avoiding language that may make victims feel stupid or that the crime was their fault. For instance, instead of saying “I can’t believe you fell for it” or “You really got duped,” you can say, “This wasn’t your fault” and “I’m so sorry this happened to you.”

The media can play a role as well. Rather than using a headline like, “Americans tricked into investing $13 million in scam,” editors might opt for, “Criminals stole $13 million in investment scam.”

Changing how we talk about it can help change the way we think about it. The goal is for fraud to be more universally viewed as a crime (which it is), and the perpetrators as criminals (which they are). 

The effects could be profound: Victims would be more willing to report these crimes, and the criminal justice system and policymakers would be motivated to fight harder to investigate, prosecute, and ultimately halt consumer fraud, which all too often goes unpunished.