Romance Scam Research Center

Cyber victimization during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A syndemic looming large

Shoib, Sheikh; Philip, Sharad; Bista, Seema; Saeed, Fahimeh; Javed, Sana; Ori, Dorottya; Bashir, Adil; Chandradasa, Miyuru (2022) — Health Science Reports

Type: Journal Article Country: United States

The commentary highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic increased online presence due to lockdowns and social isolation, which in turn escalated incidents of cyber victimization. This includes cyberbullying, harassment, stal...

Do we need to know about cyberscams in neurorehabilitation? A cross-sectional scoping survey of Australasian clinicians and service providers

Gould, Kate Rachel; Carolan, Matthew; Ponsford, Jennie Louise (2022) — Brain Impairment

Country: Australia

This study investigates whether cyberscams—particularly romance scams—are a clinical issue in neurorehabilitation, focusing on adults with acquired brain injury (ABI). People with ABI often experience cognitive, emotiona...

Exploring Fear of Crime for Those Targeted by Romance Fraud

Cross, C.; Lee, M. (2022) — Victims & Offenders

Type: Journal Article Country: Australia

Exploring Fear of Crime for Those Targeted by Romance Fraud is a cataloging-style examination of how fear of crime arises and persists among individuals who engage with or fall victim to online romantic deception. The di...

Open Access: The Use of Military Profiles in Romance Fraud Schemes

Cross, C.; Holt, TJ. (2022) — The New Technology of Financial Crime

Type: Book Chapter Country: Australia Tags: victim experience, military, prevention, measurement Populations: military

This piece examines Open Access: The Use of Military Profiles in Romance Fraud Schemes within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines common patterns documented in the literature, desc...

Self and desired partner descriptions in the online romance scam: a linguistic analysis of scammer and general user profiles on online dating portals

Lee, KF.; Chan, MY.; Mohamad Ali, A. (2022) — Crime Prevention and Community Safety

Type: Journal Article Country: Malaysia Tags: victim experience, offender tactics, psychology, AI misuse, prevention Methods: content analysis

This study investigates how online romance scammers construct their dating profiles linguistically, comparing them with genuine users on mainstream dating platforms. The focus is on self-descriptions and desired partner...

Understanding Romance Scammers Through the Lens of Their Victims: Qualitative Modeling of Risk and Protective Factors in the Online Context

Wang, F.; Topalli, V. (2022) — American Journal of Criminal Justice

Type: Journal Article Country: United States Tags: victim experience, offender tactics, AI misuse, prevention

This piece examines Understanding Romance Scammers Through the Lens of Their Victims: Qualitative Modeling of Risk and Protective Factors in the Online Context within the broader context of online fraud and mediated comm...

Using artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfakes to deceive victims: the need to rethink current romance fraud prevention messaging

Cross, C. (2022) — Crime Prevention and Community Safety

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

Romance fraud exploits the appearance of a genuine romantic connection to lure individuals into financial exploitation. Each year, a large number of people worldwide lose money to such schemes. Current prevention messagi...

A Study on prevention model of the Romance Scam crime

Jae-Young, L.; Won-Bae, P. (2021) — Korean Journal of Security Convergence Management

Type: Journal Article Country: South Korea

This piece examines A Study on prevention model of the Romance Scam crime within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines common patterns documented in the literature, describes how off...

E-Marketing: Utilizing Social Media and Marketplaces to Start Businesses for Online Love Scam Victims in Indonesia

Esfandari, DA.; Satria Putri, BP. (2021) — Charity

Type: Journal Article Country: Indonesia Tags: AI misuse

This piece examines E-Marketing: Utilizing Social Media and Marketplaces to Start Businesses for Online Love Scam Victims in Indonesia within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines co...

Hello Pretty, Hello Handsome!: Exploring the Menace of Online Dating and Romance Scam in Africa

Eseadi, C.; Ogbonna, CS.; Otu, MS.; Ede, MO. (2021) — Crime, Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System in Africa

Type: Book Chapter Country: Nigeria Tags: psychology

Online dating and romance scams are examined within criminal psychology as a growing category of deception facilitated by information and communication technology. The landscape is shaped by anonymous and semi-anonymous...