In recent years, the number of people who are cheated out of money has increased sharply. It mainly involves card fraud through, for example, Swish, but also through social manipulation, he states crime-preventing counsel.
News24 have talked to Victoria Milosevskasenior physician in psychiatry, who believes that it is common for the victim to feel shame.
– Shame is a very natural reaction, but also very taboo, she tells Nyheter24.
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The psychiatrist: Fraud leads to shame
During her time as a psychiatrist, Viktorija Milosevska has met many people who seek care after being cheated out of money. However, it is unusual that they themselves state that a fraud is the reason for the visit – instead they blame worry or anxiety.
– It usually always comes up in later conversations. They may have been in debt and been cheated. It is only when you ask about trauma and previous negative life events that it comes to light, says Viktorija Milosevska.
According to her, the reason why very few admit that they have been the victim of a fraud is that they feel ashamed. Viktorija Milosevska, on the other hand, believes that shame is a completely natural feeling.
– It’s really nothing to be ashamed of. You are not stupid, but you have just been unlucky, she says and continues:
– Reporting does not have to mean that you are unsmart or naive, but it means that you have civil courage. By reporting, you help the police, the state and others who may experience this.
Reporting a fraud crime is important, says Viktorija Milosevska. Photo: Annette ORiordan
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How do I help someone who has been the victim of a scam?
If you yourself have been victimized, it is good to report the incident to the police, but what do you do if it is a relative who has been deceived?
Viktorija Milosevska also has the answer to that.
Since many people who have been cheated out of money are ashamed of their situation, it is important to show that you are there for support. Otherwise, the risk is that the person isolates themselves with their anxiety.
– Maybe you can offer to help the person at home, or take them out for a walk, to get an opportunity to talk. When you are then in a neutral place, you can express your concern by saying “I am worried, I want to do everything I can to help you”, or “You are not as talkative as before”.
According to Viktorija Milosevska, it’s about making the person feel seen.
– You should listen to your friend or family member without accusing the person of being stupid. Then it might open up and want concrete help eventually. If they don’t answer on the first day, you should keep talking about it, but without pushing too hard, because it can have the opposite effect.
The shame after the deception can lead to isolation. Photo: Janerik Henriksson/TTPhoto: Janerik Henriksson/TT
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