Romance Scam Research Center

Modelling the modus operandi of online romance fraud: Perspectives of online romance fraudsters

Abubakari, Y. (2024) — Journal of Economic Criminology

Type: Journal Article Country: Poland

This article offers a catalog-style, neutral synopsis of research on modelling the modus operandi of online romance fraud, drawing on perspectives attributed to the perpetrators themselves. Positioned within the field of...

More Than Just a “Bad” Online Experience: Risk Factors and Characteristics of Catfishing Fraud Victimization

Snyder, Jamie A.; Golladay, Katelyn (2024) — Deviant Behavior

Type: Journal Article Country: United States

This study examines the relatively underexplored area of catfishing victimization—cases where individuals are deceived online but not necessarily defrauded financially. Using survey data from 1,511 social media and datin...

Relationship fraud: Romance, friendship and family frauds

Button, Mark; Carter, Elisabeth (2024) — Journal of Economic Criminology

Type: Journal Article Country: United Kingdom

Relationship fraud refers to intentional deception in which trust within intimate or interpersonal ties—romance, friendship, and family relationships—is exploited to obtain money, property, or other benefits. The topic c...

Romance Scam and Legal Interpreting/Translation

Mouri, M. (2024) — IICAH Official Conference Proceedings

Type: Proceedings Article Country: Japan Tags: AI misuse

This catalog entry describes shifts in criminal activity associated with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, focusing on how restrictions on the movement of people and goods altered illicit flows. Physical channe...

Romance Scamming: Uncovering the Transnational Crime and Legal Challenges

Rabby, F.; Chowdory, MMU. (2024) — International Journal of Law and Societal Studies

Type: Journal Article Country: Bangladesh Tags: victim experience, law enforcement, AI misuse, cross-cultural Methods: interview, qualitative

This piece examines Romance Scamming: Uncovering the Transnational Crime and Legal Challenges within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines common patterns documented in the literatur...

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 Emerging Trends of Online Romance Fraud in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

Sahni Jindal, SP. (2024) — Relation between International and National Criminal Law

Type: Proceedings Article Country: India Tags: victim experience, offender tactics, psychology, law enforcement, AI misuse, prevention, measurement

The convergence of online connectivity and increasingly capable artificial intelligence has transformed how people form and maintain relationships. Against this backdrop, online romance fraud has emerged as a notable cyb...

The Frames of Romance Scamming

Faber, P. (2024) — Research in Language

Type: Journal Article Country: Spain Tags: victim experience, offender tactics, AI misuse

This study analyzes love fraud, or romance scamming, as a form of scripted interaction conducted within a commercial transaction frame. The core participants are the seller, identified as the fraudster, and the buyer, wh...