Romance Scam Research Center

Scammed by Love: The Role of Loneliness, Trust, and Age in Financial Losses from U.S. Online Romance Scams

Cole, R. (2024) — Innovation in Aging

Type: Journal Article Country: United States Tags: victim experience, older adults, AI misuse, measurement, cross-cultural Populations: older adults Methods: survey, quantitative

This piece examines SCAMMED BY LOVE: THE ROLE OF LONELINESS, TRUST, AND AGE IN FINANCIAL LOSSES FROM U.S. ONLINE ROMANCE SCAMS within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines common pat...

The charade of discreetness: Exploring the paradoxical lifestyles of romance fraudsters

Barnor, J. (2024) — Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling

Type: Journal Article Country: Ghana Tags: law enforcement, AI misuse, prevention, measurement Methods: interview, qualitative

This article investigates the mechanisms that shape why romance fraud perpetrators publicly display wealth, a line of inquiry that has received limited attention in prior research. The study gathered data through semi-st...

The dark side of Artificial Intelligence – Risks arising in dating applications

Fletcher, Rachel; Tzani, Calli; Ioannou, Maria (2024) — Assessment and Development Matters

Type: Journal Article Country: United Kingdom Tags: victim experience, AI misuse, online dating platforms

This piece examines The dark side of Artificial Intelligence – Risks arising in dating applications within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines common patterns documented in the lit...

The Scenes Behind the Global ‘Pig Butchering’ Scheme in Myanmar

Li, Tongyang (2024) — Interdisciplinary Humanities and Communication Studies

Type: Journal Article Country: China Tags: victim experience, psychology, AI misuse, cross-cultural

This piece examines The Scenes Behind the Global ‘Pig Butchering’ Scheme in Myanmar within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines common patterns documented in the literature, describ...

The victimology of online fraud: A focus on romance fraud victimisation

Drew, Jacqueline M.; Webster, Julianne (2024) — Journal of Economic Criminology

Type: Journal Article Country: Australia

This article provides a catalog-style overview of victimology in online fraud, with a focus on romance fraud victimisation. Situating online scams within the broader field of economic criminology, the work outlines how v...

Understanding the Nature of the Transnational Scam-Related Fraud: Challenges and Solutions from Vietnam’s Perspective

Luong, Hai Thanh; Ngo, Hieu Minh (2024) — Laws

Type: Journal Article Country: Australia Tags: offender tactics, law enforcement, platform policy, AI misuse, prevention, cross-cultural Methods: secondary data

This piece examines Understanding the Nature of the Transnational Scam-Related Fraud: Challenges and Solutions from Vietnam’s Perspective within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines...

Unravelling the organisation of ivorian cyberfraudsters: Criminal networks or organised crime?

Cretu-Adatte, Cristina; Azi, Josselin Wilfred; Beaudet-Labrecque, Olivier; Bunning, Hazel; Brunoni, Luca; Zbinden, Renaud (2024) — Journal of Economic Criminology

Type: Journal Article Country: Switzerland

This piece examines Unravelling the organisation of ivorian cyberfraudsters: Criminal networks or organised crime? within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines common patterns docume...

Unveiling the Patterns of Romance Scams in South Korea

Choi, SW.; Lee, J.; Choi, YJ. (2024) — International Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology and Learning

Type: Journal Article Country: South Korea Tags: offender tactics

Romance scams are a form of cybercrime in which fraudsters cultivate online relationships to obtain money, personal information, or access to resources from targeted individuals. Global trends indicate a rising prevalenc...

“I knew it was a scam”: Understanding the triggers for recognizing romance fraud

Cross, C. (2023) — Criminology & Public Policy

Type: Journal Article Country: Australia Tags: victim experience, platform policy, AI misuse, prevention

This article examines the factors that contribute to the moment a romance fraud victimization becomes realized, drawing on 1015 reports submitted to Scamwatch, Australia’s online fraud reporting portal, during the period...

A Game-Theoretic Approach to Detecting Romance Scams

Nwafor, E. (2023) — New Perspectives in Behavioral Cybersecurity

Type: Book Chapter Country: United States

This piece examines A Game-Theoretic Approach to Detecting Romance Scams within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines common patterns documented in the literature, describes how offe...