The Scammers Persuasive Techniques Model: Development of a Stage Model to Explain the Online Dating Romance Scam

Whitty, MT. (2013) — British Journal of Criminology
Synopsis

This article develops a stage-based explanatory framework to account for online dating romance scams. The proposed model traces how persuasive techniques are organized and deployed across successive phases of a scam encounter, from initial contact and relationship building to exploitation and potential termination. The authors position the work within criminology theories of deception, social influence, and cyber-enabled crime, with the aim of clarifying the temporal sequencing of tactics so that researchers and practitioners can map offender behavior to observable stages in online dating contexts. The synopsis notes that the model identifies discrete, interacting elements that characterize offender practice at each stage, including the construction of legitimacy, manipulation of emotional bonds, and exploitation of financial or informational gain. The analysis considers how stage progression may be shaped by victim responses and platform mechanics, while also accounting for environmental and situational factors. The framework is presented as a lens for interpreting case material and for informing prevention efforts, education campaigns, and investigative strategies. Methodological and theoretical contributions are described in neutral terms, with attention to the model’s coherence, applicability across case types, and potential limitations. The authors discuss implications for detection, user awareness, platform policy, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, and they outline avenues for future refinement and empirical validation. The catalog-style synopsis suggests the work serves as a reference point for scholars examining deceptive online interactions and for practitioners seeking structured means to deconstruct romance scam narratives.
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