The Online Romance Scam: A Serious Cybercrime

Whitty, MT. ; Buchanan, T. (2012) — Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking

DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2011.0352

Synopsis

This entry examines online romance scams as a form of cybercrime characterized by deliberate deception within internet relationships initiated on dating sites, apps, or social networks. Perpetrators cultivate emotional connections to exploit trust and obtain financial or personal information from victims. The phenomenon is described in terms of scope, modalities, and the actors involved, with attention to how online platforms, messaging protocols, and anonymity enable manipulation. Common patterns include staged self-presentations, love‑bombing, and staged emergencies used to solicit funds or sensitive data from earnest suitors. Victims experience a range of harms, from financial loss to reputational or psychological distress, with impacts extending to families and communities. Scholarly and practitioner accounts classify scams by stages, from initial contact to trust-building and eventual requests for money, gifts, or personal information. Characteristics of perpetrators include role-play, secrecy, and ability to sustain believable personas. Cultural and demographic factors shape vulnerability, communication dynamics, and help-seeking behaviors, while the global reach of digital networks complicates detection and response. Research and practice address detection, prevention, and remediation by examining cognitive and emotional drivers, platform design, and policy responses. Approaches include risk awareness messaging, enhanced verification, reporting workflows, and cross‑border cooperation among law enforcement and platforms. The literature draws

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