When someone falls victim to a scam, the financial impact is often just the beginning. Victims face a maze of challenges—from filing reports with law enforcement to seeking reimbursement from financial institutions, protecting their credit, and understanding their rights under consumer protection laws. According to the 2025 GASA Global State of Scams survey, 29% of respondents living in the United States encountered scam attempts daily. Behind each of these numbers is a person struggling to recover, often without knowing where to turn for help.
To address this critical gap, Amazon, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP (DWT), Pro Bono Institute (PBI), and the Better Business Bureau Institute for Marketplace Trust (BBB Institute) launched the Scam Justice Legal Clinic (SJLC). Announced in May 2025, the first-of-its-kind clinic provides scam victims with access to free legal advice and education, addressing a challenge that has left many scam victims without the resources they need to seek justice and rebuild their lives.
Accessible support for scam victims.
While private companies, governments, and consumer protection organizations have launched initiatives to educate the public and assist those affected by scams, accessible legal services have been largely unavailable. Victims often lack guidance on their rights, are unsure how to report crimes, face confusion about options for recovering losses, and feel overwhelmed by the process of protecting their identities and credit.
“Scam survivors face challenges that can compound over time,” said Melissa Lanning, executive director of the BBB Institute. “Our research shows they experience significant emotional distress, damaged credit, and diminished confidence in their ability to navigate the digital world. The Scam Justice Legal Clinic represents the kind of collaborative response needed to address the full scope of harm these crimes cause.”
The SJLC addresses these challenges by providing legal guidance and resources from experienced volunteer attorneys. The clinic offers consultative sessions where people receive support tailored to their specific situation, as well as:
- Assistance documenting cybercrime incidents and filing reports with law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and the Federal Trade Commission, and financial institutions
- Individualized action plans
- Referrals to mental health and emotional support resources
The clinic’s approach emphasizes trauma-informed care, with volunteer attorneys trained to provide empathetic, non-judgmental support that helps people regain a sense of control and agency in the aftermath of their experience. Beyond the consultation itself, the clinic equips victims with practical tools to support their recovery, including template letters for financial institutions and credit bureaus, government reporting guidance, and educational materials on cybersecurity best practices.
“Scam survivors experience harm that goes far beyond financial loss, yet legal help has historically been out of reach,” said Joanna Plichta Boisen, chief pro bono and social impact officer at Davis Wright Tremaine. “This initiative finally changes that by bringing expert, trauma-informed legal support to people who need it most, restoring agency and advancing justice.”
Collaborating across partners and industry.
The SJLC is a collaboration between organizations with complementary expertise in law, technology, consumer protection, and pro bono service delivery. DWT provides legal leadership, clinic administration, and volunteer training, drawing on expertise in consumer protection and cybercrime enforcement. The firm handles logistics, trains and supervises attorneys, and provides substantive and cultural competency training to ensure clients receive trauma-informed, empathetic support.
Amazon brings expertise from its Customer Protection and Enforcement team, which investigates and disrupts impersonation scams and other forms of online fraud affecting consumers worldwide. Amazon attorneys volunteer at the clinic, leveraging their experience to help refine training materials and improve client experience.
“Our work investigating impersonation scams has shown us that legal guidance is critical for many victims trying to recover,” said Tom Olsen, senior corporate counsel, Customer Protection and Enforcement at Amazon. “Our support of the Scam Justice Legal Clinic strengthens our commitment to protecting consumers from these scams and collaborating with other organizations who share this objective.”
Pro Bono Institute provides malpractice insurance coverage for participating attorneys and expertise in mobilizing the legal profession to serve communities in need. PBI’s leadership in the pro bono field helps expand the clinic’s volunteer pool and ensures high-quality service delivery.
“PBI is proud to collaborate with Amazon, the BBB Institute, and DWT on the Scam Justice Legal Clinic, leveraging our expertise and network to help mobilize legal professionals,” said Eve Runyon, PBI president and CEO. “This initiative plays a vital role in ensuring survivors have access to the pro bono legal services they need.”
The BBB Institute serves as the primary referral source for SJLC clients, using its Scam Tracker tool to identify people who could benefit from legal assistance. The BBB Institute’s broad reach in consumer education and fraud prevention helps connect victims with the resources they need most.
Victims referred to the clinic complete a detailed intake form covering the nature of the scam, steps already taken, financial impacts, and objectives for legal help. Volunteer attorneys then provide personalized consultations that address each client’s specific situation and needs.
By providing people with the legal tools and knowledge they need to fight back, the clinic helps individuals recover while contributing to broader efforts to disrupt scam and fraud networks and make it harder for bad actors to operate with impunity.
To learn more, visit the Scam Justice Legal Clinic website or to read about Amazon’s approach to protecting consumers from impersonation scam on our Scam Prevention page.