As cited
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threat intel
Shame and sleepless nights haunt scam victims long after the money is gone
The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) released a 2026 Consumer Impact Report based on a survey of over 1,100 U.S. adults and 197 victims who contacted the ITRC, documenting the psychological and practical impacts of scams and identity theft. Beyond financial loss, scam victims report shame and self-blame, while identity theft victims spend weeks repairing the damage to their accounts and records.
Why it matters: Security practitioners and incident responders need to understand that victims require support beyond forensics and remediation; scam and identity theft recovery involves addressing trauma, shame, and long-term psychological effects that extend well beyond the initial financial or data exposure.
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