The Challenges Posed by Scammers to Online Support Groups: The ‘Deserving’ and the ‘Undeserving’ Victims of Scams

Abstract

A number of groups have developed on Facebook that address the issue of online scamming. Their aim is to share the online profiles developed by scammers and to provide up-to-date information on how people can protect themselves from scams. These groups are available for anyone to locate on Facebook by typing in a key word search. There are sites that
focus on scammers more generally and sites that focus on more niche or specific types of scams. There are sites that are ‘public’ (accessible to anyone), ‘closed’ (you have to be accepted by the moderators to join the site) or private (only accessible to members and not available to view without an invitation). General sites aimed at providing information on how to avoid scamming and information on scammers profiles include ‘imposters’, ‘scammers busted’, we fighting scammers and imposters’
and ‘scammers and hoaxes’. Action Fraud is a national reporting centre where people can report fraud and cybercrime. The centre provides up to-date information regarding cybercrime and is run by the City of London Police who work alongside the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.