Romance Scam Research Center

A crime script perspective on mapping the entry, continuation, and exit pathways of online romance fraud

Abubakari, Yushawu; Lazarus, Suleman; Oseh-Ovarah, Valeen (2026) — International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice

Type: Journal Article

This article presents a crime script perspective on online romance fraud, focusing on how fraudulent schemes are initiated, sustained, and completed in digital environments. Grounded in crime-script analysis, it maps ent...

Media Presentation of Online Romance Fraud in the Czech Republic: Visibility, Victim-Offender Framing, and Sentiment

Abubakari, Yushawu (2026) — European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research

Type: Journal Article

This catalog-style study surveys how online romance fraud is presented in Czech media, with a focus on visibility, victim-offender framing, and sentiment within coverage. Situating the analysis within the fields of crimi...

Online romance scam victimization fear: theorizing the causes and the consequences

Alam, Nabid; Dhillon, Gurpreet; Oliveira, Tiago (2026) — Internet Research

Type: Journal Article Tags: victim experience, psychology, platform policy, risk factors, measurement Methods: survey, interview, qualitative, quantitative

The study seeks to illuminate the causes and effects of fear of victimization from online romance scams, treating it as a form of psychological stress that matters for both individuals who date online and the platforms t...

‘Love is a powerful force and in our pursuit of it we are easily blinded’: Examining negative consequences experienced by catfishing fraud victims

Golladay, Katelyn A; Snyder, Jamie A (2025) — International Review of Victimology

Type: Journal Article Country: United States Tags: victim experience, platform policy, measurement Methods: survey

Digital victimization is increasingly observed as a societal concern, with individuals concealing their true identities behind screens to manipulate and target others who are seeking friendship or companionship online. T...

A systematic literature review of profiling victims of cyber scams: setting up a framework for future research

Whitty, MT. (2025) — Cogent Social Sciences

Type: Journal Article Country: United Kingdom

This article presents a systematic literature review (SLR) of research profiling victims of cyber scams, aiming to establish a framework for future studies. The review was motivated by the rapid global growth of cyber sc...

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...

Mental Health Impacts of Cybercrime

Burrell, Darrell (2025) — International Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security

Type: Journal Article Country: United States Tags: victim experience, psychology, platform policy, money mules, prevention, measurement

As online dating continues to evolve, deceptive practices have grown in breadth and sophistication, spanning from classic catfishing to more systemic forms such as pig-butchering and Intimacy Manipulated Fraud Industrial...

ROMANCE AND RUIN: THE INTERPLAY OF FINANCIAL LOSS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AMONG LOVE SCAM VICTIMS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Dr. Rhem Rick N. Corpuz; Mary Joy G. Galang; Kim Hope S. Gueco; Kate D. Pamintuan (2025) — EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR)

Type: Journal Article Tags: victim experience, offender tactics, psychology, AI misuse, online dating platforms, prevention, measurement Methods: survey

This paper examines the relationship between financial loss and psychological well-being among victims of online romance scams in the Philippines using a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design. The study surveyed 38...

Romance Scam Victimization: A Survey-Based Examination of Financial, Psychological, and Reporting Factors

Herrera, LD (2025) — 2025 13th International Symposium on Digital Forensics and Security (ISDFS)

Type: Proceedings Article Country: United States Tags: victim experience, psychology, AI misuse, Artificial Intelligence Methods: survey, quantitative

Romance scams constitute a rising form of cybercrime in which perpetrators cultivate deceitful romantic relationships to extract financial resources, causing substantial economic and psychological harm while remaining ma...

Romance Scams and Older Adults: A Health and Social Care Perspective

Sorinmade, Oluwatoyin; Emmett, Charlotte; Elugbadebo, Olufisayo; Okolo, Chidera (2025) — Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine

Type: Journal Article Country: United Kingdom Tags: victim experience, psychology, older adults Populations: older adults

The proliferation of online interaction has expanded opportunities for connection and encounter, alongside increasingly sophisticated forms of exploitation. This article centers on romance scams as a significant threat,...