Bloodsuckers in the Shadows: Scammers as Vampires and the Ethics of Survivor-Centered Profiling

Vampires have haunted folklore for centuries — seductive, immortal, and parasitic. But in the modern world, their closest analogs aren’t cloaked in capes or lurking in castles. They wear suits, send texts, and promise opportunity. They are scammers: emotional predators who drain time, trust, and financial lifeblood from their victims. This article reframes scammers through the lens of vampire mythology, offering a survivor-centered analysis of two archetypes — Jemel Moody as the street-level vampire and Michael Tanner as Count Dracula of debt collection.