The Role of Love stories in Romance Scams: A Qualitative Analysis of Fraudulent Profiles

Christian Kopp ; Robert Layton ; Jim Sillitoe ; Iqbal Gondal (2016) — Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.56227

Synopsis

The Online Romance Scam represents a highly effective form of fraud that imposes substantial financial losses and emotional distress on those targeted. This study develops a perspective intended to help explain why this scam achieves such high levels of success. Drawing an analogy to well-known mass-mail scams, the authors argue that the chief techniques of romance fraud exploit intense emotions that are inherent to romantic connections. They also propose that the factors that normally sustain successful relationships may likewise operate to support the success of romance scams. By situating the phenomenon within the broader dynamics of romantic interaction, the authors seek to illuminate how emotional responses, trust-building processes, and the allure of intimate connection can be harnessed by fraudulent actors. In doing so, the work frames the scam as not merely a sequence of deceitful acts, but as a strategy that taps into deeply rooted relational mechanisms. In

Citation style