Standing with Scam Victims
Center for Restorative Justice & Dignity is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals recover from scams—financially, legally, and emotionally.
We’re here to listen with compassion, provide meaningful support, and advocate for justice. Our mission is to help restore what was taken from you—your peace of mind, your trust, and your dignity.
How We Help
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We offer a confidential intake process to understand what happened and connect victims with the right resources — legal, emotional, or financial.
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We're building a coalition of experts across law, mental health, tech, and finance to assist scam victims directly.
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Through outreach and education, we aim to reduce stigma, raise awareness, and push for stronger protections for victims.
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We're working toward launching a dedicated phone line for scam victims seeking immediate guidance.
A personal fight for justice
Brian Haugen founded Scam Victims Defense Network after personally experiencing online identity theft and all of its repercussions.
In 2020 the FBI informed Brian that scammers had stolen his photos and personal content to create thousands of fake profiles that were then used in romance scams across the globe. Victims were manipulated into surrendering millions under false identities built from his real life.
Shortly after, Brian’s social media presence — including his verified business and actor pages — was erased.
Determined to turn this violation into purpose, Brian launched SVDN to support victims, promote healing, and pursue justice. Through advocacy, trauma-informed support, and collaborative partnerships, he helps survivors reclaim their dignity and move forward. He still receives daily messages from people asking the same question:
“Are you the real Brian Haugen?”
What we’re building
We envision a world where victims of scams are treated with dignity, where platforms are held accountable, and where recovery is not a mystery — but a path made visible.
In the coming months and years, we plan to:
Launch a nationwide scam victim helpline
Expand our professional support network
Advocate for stronger legal protections
Normalize conversations around scam recovery
Our Team
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Brent Pace, LCSW
Executive Director
Brent is a psychotherapist with over 22 years of experience supporting survivors of trauma. Formerly the clinical director of a torture treatment program, he now leads trauma-informed strategy at SVDN. Brent’s expertise in restorative justice and mind-body healing anchors the network’s compassionate care approach.
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Brian Haugen, BS Psychology
Advocate for Survivors of Online Fraud
Brian Haugen is a dedicated advocate for individuals targeted by online romance scams and digital exploitation. After discovering that his identity and life story had been stolen and used in scams to deceive thousands of women across the globe, Brian made a decision — not to hide, but to stand up and help.
Since 2017, he has supported victims through their most vulnerable moments. Brian offers guidance to survivors on how to stop all communication with scammers, how to halt financial harm, and how to safely contact government agencies, banks, and legal resources across borders. His approach is trauma-informed, grounded in compassion, and fiercely focused on protecting others from ongoing abuse.
As the founder of the Center for Restorative Justice & Dignity, and its flagship initiative, the Scam Victims Defense Network (SVDN), Brian works to turn pain into power. He advocates for survivor-centered healing, greater corporate responsibility, and systemic reform across digital platforms that have allowed online fraud to flourish unchecked.
His mission is clear: to restore dignity, pursue justice, and ensure no survivor ever feels alone, silenced, or forgotten.
Have Skills That Can Help?
We’re building a support network. If you’re a professional who can help victims recover, we want to hear from you.