An Examination of Digital Validation-Seeking Behaviors in Adolescents as Precursors to Romance Scamming

Ohu, Francis ; Jones, Laura (2025) — Scientia Moralitas Conference Proceedings
Synopsis

This study investigates digital validation-seeking behaviors among adolescents and young adults as precursors to romance scamming. It argues that patterns of deceptive online self-presentation, reinforced by social media algorithms and peer approval, can evolve into manipulative behaviors that eventually culminate in financial fraud.

The authors adopt a forensic cyberpsychology framework, drawing on theories such as social learning, social comparison, cognitive dissonance, routine activity, and hyperpersonal communication to explain how early online deception normalizes manipulation. They emphasize the role of Dark Triad traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy), showing how individuals with these tendencies are more susceptible to using deception for validation, which escalates into exploitative scams.

Key findings highlight that adolescents with low self-esteem are significantly more likely to engage in deceptive behaviors like fake profiles and catfishing. Over time, algorithmic reinforcement loops—such as likes, shares, and engagement farming—condition users to equate deception with success. This cycle desensitizes them to ethical concerns and gradually shapes manipulative tactics that resemble those employed in romance scams. A heatmap of risk factors (Figure 5, p. 20) shows that validation-seeking (scoring 1.0) and social comparison (0.9) are the strongest predictors of scammer development, followed by algorithmic reinforcement (0.8), parental neglect (0.7), and socioeconomic stress (0.6).

The research demonstrates how economic stressors also drive adolescents to view online deception as a low-risk income strategy. Combined with social media’s amplification of manipulative content and the rise of AI-driven deception tools (deepfakes, chatbots), validation-seeking pathways become even more entrenched. Importantly, 40% of cyber fraudsters report first experimenting with deception during adolescence, supporting the developmental trajectory proposed by the authors.

The study concludes that romance scams are not merely financial crimes but psychological manipulations rooted in digital validation dynamics. To counter this progression, the authors recommend:

Algorithmic monitoring and AI-based detection to flag manipulative engagement loops.

Digital literacy and resilience programs targeting adolescents, with emphasis on early detection of deceptive behaviors.

Policy interventions that enforce algorithmic transparency, identity verification on dating platforms, and stronger cross-border law enforcement collaboration.

The authors also call for longitudinal studies to track how adolescent validation-seeking develops into full-scale fraud and emphasize the ethical responsibility of social media platforms to de-amplify manipulative content.

In sum, the paper maps a developmental pathway from digital validation to romance scamming, showing how psychological vulnerabilities, social reinforcement, algorithmic bias, and economic stress converge to normalize deception. It advances forensic cyberpsychology by linking adolescent online behavior to adult cyber fraud, providing actionable insights for prevention, education, and policy reform.
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