Emotional and financial costs of online dating scam: A phenomenological narrative of the experiences of victims of Nigerian romance fraudsters

Aborisade, Richard Abayomi ; Ocheja, Akoji ; Okuneye, Babatunde Adekunle (2024) — Journal of Economic Criminology

DOI: 10.1016/j.jeconc.2023.100044

Synopsis

This catalog-style synopsis presents a phenomenological narrative focused on the experiences of individuals who encountered online romance fraud attributed to Nigerian romance fraudsters. The work centers on how victims describe the emotional and financial costs in their own terms, rather than through aggregate statistics. By foregrounding lived experience, the narrative seeks to capture how trust is broken, senses of self erode, and everyday life is reorganized in the wake of deceit enacted within online dating contexts. Key themes include emotional costs such as grief, anxiety, shame, and lingering distrust in future relationships, as well as financial costs ranging from illicit transfers and debt to long-term economic instability. The narrative traces pathways by which victims respond to exploitation, including escalation of support-seeking, changes in digital behavior, and attempts at recovery or restitution. It also considers the broader social impacts, such as strain on family ties, social isolation, and the stigma associated with becoming a victim of online fraud. From a criminological perspective, the synopsis highlights how the phenomenon intersects with economic crime, digital economies, and vulnerabilities in online dating ecosystems. The phenomenological lens aims to render victims' voices audible to researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, with attention to implications for prevention, victim assistance, and restorative or monetary remedies. The overall contribution lies in

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