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The online dating romance scam: The psychological impact on victims – both financial and non-financial

Whitty, MT. ; Buchanan, T. (2015) — Criminology & Criminal Justice

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DOI: 10.1177/1748895815603773 (opens in a new tab)

Type:   Journal Article
Country:   United Kingdom
Tags:   Cybersexual Abuse, Financial Loss, Grief, Law Enforcement, Online Dating Romance Scam, Platform Policy, Psychological Impact, Psychology, Relationship Loss, Repeat Victimization, Revictimization, Romance Scams, Victim Experience, Victim Recovery, Victim Support
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Synopsis

            
This study explores the psychological consequences of online dating romance scams, a form of fraud that combines financial harm with the collapse of a personal relationship. Unlike victims of other mass marketing frauds, those targeted by this scam endure two simultaneous losses: money and the dissolution of an intimate connection. For most participants, the end of the relationship produced greater distress than the monetary setback, with several characters likening the breakup to a death. Across accounts, some participants describe the experience as traumatic, and all report negative effects stemming from the crime. A central finding concerns how victims cope with the aftermath. Many struggled to find effective ways forward in the absence of understanding from family and friends, leaving them with limited social support. The study highlights denial as a common response, whether through refusal to acknowledge that the scam occurred or difficulty in separating the authentic-looking persona from the criminal behind it. This approach to coping was found to be ineffective, contributing to continued vulnerability and the possibility of a second encounter with the scam. In addition to documenting harms and coping patterns, the article discusses policy implications. It suggests changes in how law enforcement addresses online dating romance scams, aiming to enhance responses to this crime and mitigate its impact on victims. The recommendations underscore the need for improved recognition of the unique psychological toll of these scams and for measures that can better assist victims through the investigative and recovery processes.

          

        
                  

            
Identified Gaps

            
Research on the psychological impact of fraud, particularly online dating romance scams, was scarce and lacked depth. The authors note limited consideration of cybersexual abuse/rape and can only theorize its damaging effects from these interviews. The small qualitative study identifies issues that require quantitative investigation.

          

        
                  

            
Methods

            
Exploratory qualitative study using thematic analysis of in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Twenty self-identified romance-scam victims were recruited through law-enforcement introductions or a prior victim-typology survey; some had not lost money but had experienced attempted fraud. Interviews lasted three to five hours, and some participants were re-interviewed for clarification. The analysis reported themes arising from individual cases rather than seeking generalization.

          

        
                  

            
Limitations

            
The study used a relatively small qualitative sample and explicitly did not seek to quantify responses or generalize findings. Participants were recruited through law enforcement and a prior survey, which may not represent all romance-scam victims. Experiences also varied in timing, from scams that had just ended to cases several years old or still continuing. Claims concerning cybersexual abuse are presented as theoretical because of limited research and interview-based evidence.

          

        
                  

            
Future Work

            
Quantitative research should examine the main issues identified in this small qualitative sample. Further research is also needed on the psychological effects and legal status of coerced cyber-sexual acts in romance scams.

          

              

    
    

        
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