Romance Scam Research Center

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

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

Country: United States Tags: offender tactics, psychology, AI misuse, risk factors, measurement

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...

Analysis of a Cryptocurrency Investment Scam: Pig Butchering

Botha, Johannes George; Singh, Kreaan; Leenen, Louise (2025) — European Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security

Type: Journal Article Country: South Africa Tags: victim experience, platform policy, money mules, AI misuse, offender tactics, social engineering, risk factors, prevention, cross-cultural Methods: case study, interview, qualitative

This catalog-style synopsis describes a scholarly examination of a cryptocurrency investment scam centered on a trading platform identified as Elite-Bit. The study employs a case-study approach focused on a single victim...

Analyzing the Evolving Modus Operandi of Romance Scams via Court Judgments: Crime Script and Policy Implications

Lee, Hyejin; Boo, Minseo (2025) — KOREAN CRIMINOLOGICAL REVIEW

Type: Journal Article

This article presents a neutral examination of the evolving modus operandi of romance scams through a review of court judgments. Located within the scope of the Korean Criminological Review, the analysis applies a crime...

Catfishing: a conduta de assumir uma identidade falsa nas plataformas de mídia social e suas consequências jurídico-penais

Almeida, Paulo Henrique Carvalho; Costa, Sebastião Patrício Mendes da (2025) — Opinión Jurídica

Type: Journal Article Country: Brazil Tags: AI misuse

The central objective of the work is to examine the legal issues associated with the use of fake profiles on social media platforms, in order to determine whether such conduct constitutes a criminal offense under Brazili...

CHAPTER 10 The Online Mutual Help Practices of Romance Fraud Victims

Cantin, Pascale-Marie; Ream, Fyscillia; Dupont, Benoît (2025) — The Security of Self

Type: Book Chapter

Chapter 10 surveys the online mutual-help practices engaged in by individuals who have experienced romance fraud. Across digital spaces such as forums, social networks, and informal groups, victims connect to share perso...

Developments in the Law Governing Online Activity: The Criminalisation of Catfishing and Civil Relief in Cases of Image-Based Sexual Abuse

Boland, Michael James (2025) — SSRN Electronic Journal

Type: Journal Article Country: Ireland

Developments in the Law Governing Online Activity: The Criminalisation of Catfishing and Civil Relief in Cases of Image-Based Sexual Abuse provides a catalog-style overview of recent legal changes addressing online condu...

Digital Deception: Online Fraud Targeting the Elderly – Patterns, Mechanisms, and Policy Responses

Carter, Wendy (2025)

Type: Journal Article Country: Australia Tags: victim experience, psychology, older adults, platform policy, AI misuse, prevention Populations: older adults

This piece examines Digital Deception: Online Fraud Targeting the Elderly – Patterns, Mechanisms, and Policy Responses within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines common patterns do...

Does age matter? Examining seniors’ experiences of romance fraud

Cross, Cassandra; Holt, Thomas J. (2025) — Security Journal

Type: Journal Article Country: Australia Tags: victim experience, older adults, AI misuse, risk factors Populations: older adults

Romance fraud centers on offenders who present a believable romantic connection to persuade victims to surrender money. Although research on romance deception has expanded, there is limited exploration of how victims’ de...

Factors Influencing Involvement in Cyber-Frauds in West Africa and the Implications for Policy

Button, Mark; Lazarus, Suleman; Hock, Branislav; Bugbilla Sabia, James; Pandey, Durgesh; Gilmour, Paul (2025) — European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research

Type: Journal Article Country: United Kingdom Tags: victim experience, law enforcement, platform policy, AI misuse, prevention, measurement Methods: interview

This article examines cyber-frauds and scams as a significant problem linked to West Africa, particularly Nigeria and Ghana, and explores how such activity spreads beyond the perpetrators themselves. Drawing on 36 interv...

Forgiveness-Seeking Behaviors Among Online Romance Fraudsters: Insights from Sakawa Actors in Ghana

Abubakari, Y. (2025) — International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology

Type: Journal Article Country: Poland Tags: victim experience, AI misuse

The study investigates forgiveness-seeking behaviors among online romance scammers operating in Ghana, concentrating on how Sakawa practitioners grapple with moral guilt. By applying Moral Disengagement Theory alongside...