“Falling into a Black Hole”: A Qualitative Exploration of the Lived Experiences of Cyberscam Victim-Survivors and Their Social Support Networks
Cazanis, Alyxandra; Carminati, Jao-Yue; Chew, Kimberly; Cross, Cassandra; Ponsford, Jennie; Gould, Kate Rachel (2025) — Victims & Offenders
Type: Journal Article
Country: Australia
This study investigates the lived experiences of cyberscam victim-survivors and their friends and family members, highlighting vulnerabilities, impacts, and support needs. Although cyberscams affect millions globally, ex...
Butcher or be butchered: understanding the unwitting recruitment by cybercrime groups in China
Luo, Qiaoyu; Zhao, Yun (2025) — Trends in Organized Crime
Type: Journal Article
Country: China
Tags: cybercrime, recruitment, unwitting involvement, cybercrime industrialisation, China, qualitative research, semi-structured interviews, money mules, AI misuse, risk factors
This piece examines Butcher or be butchered: understanding the unwitting recruitment by cybercrime groups in China within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines common patterns docume...
The Gamification of Online Romance Fraud through Offenders’ Cards
Abubakari, Yushawu; Oseh-Ovarah, Valeen (2025) — Digital Threats: Research and Practice
Type: Journal Article
Country: Czech Republic
Tags: victim experience, psychology, AI misuse, prevention, cross-cultural
This study addresses the persistence of online romance fraud in Ghana and treats offenders as strategic players within a game-theoretic framework. By viewing fraudulent encounters as a strategic contest, the researchers...
Addressing Cyberscams and Acquired Brain Injury (“I Desperately Need to Know What to Do”): Qualitative Exploration of Clinicians’ and Service Providers’ Perspectives
Chew, Kimberly Ann; Ponsford, Jennie; Gould, Kate Rachel (2024) — Journal of Medical Internet Research
Type: Journal Article
Country: Australia
Tags: victim experience, psychology, AI misuse, prevention
Acquired brain injury can heighten susceptibility to scams due to ongoing cognitive and psychosocial changes following injury. Cyberscams produce financial harm alongside debilitating psychological effects such as shame...
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
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 Unpreventable Emotional Telecom Fraud —— "Pig-Butchering Scam"
Jiang, HN.; Wang, CH.; Duan, ZZ. (2023) — Scholars Bulletin
Type: Journal Article
Country: China
Tags: victim experience, psychology, AI misuse, measurement, cross-cultural
The body of fraud literature documents a shift from traditional offline schemes to online telecom-based deception, with pig-butchering scams emerging as a notable example. This form has been highlighted as one of the ten...
