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Romance Scam as one of the main Challenges of cybercrime

Khukhunaishvili, Dina (2024)

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DOI: 10.13140/rg.2.2.23659.14880 (opens in a new tab)

Type:   Article
Country:   Global
Tags:   Cyber Fraud, Cybercrime Investigation, Reporting, Romance Scams, Social Engineering, Trust Building, Victim Harm, Victim Support
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Synopsis

            
The study used mixed methods and primary and secondary sources, including literature, statistical data, regulations, reports, questionnaires, participant observation, and online interviews. The researcher covertly interacted with two suspected scammers while posing as a person seeking romance, focusing on trust-building and manipulation. Questionnaire respondents identified legal assistance, information about victim services, financial assistance, and medical or psychological treatment as post-victimization needs. Only 7.5% of questionnaire respondents believed law enforcement could adequately investigate romance-scam cases. The questionnaire was distributed through one German support forum and included 53 self-selected people affected by romance scams, so its descriptive findings may not represent all victims.

          

        
                  

            
Identified Gaps

            
The paper identifies few romance-scam studies beyond general definitions, victim/offender psychological characteristics, and persuasion techniques. It reports an especially limited evidence base on legal regulation, investigation procedures, victim support, and emotional trauma. It also indicates that current victim-support systems are inadequate globally.

          

        
                  

            
Methods

            
The study used mixed methods and primary and secondary sources, including literature, statistical data, regulations, reports, questionnaires, participant observation, and online interviews. The researcher covertly interacted with two suspected scammers while posing as a person seeking romance, focusing on trust-building and manipulation. Online interviews involved field experts and the founder of a German victim-support forum. A victim questionnaire was distributed through that forum and received 53 responses.

          

        
                  

            
Limitations

            
The questionnaire was distributed through one German support forum and included 53 self-selected people affected by romance scams, so its descriptive findings may not represent all victims. The covert observational component involved only two scammers and depended on the researcher’s interactions and interpretations. Several broader claims rely on cited prior studies and expert accounts rather than systematic case or administrative data collected by this study.

          

        
                  

            
Future Work

            
Further research is needed on victims’ support needs and on the challenges authorities face when investigating romance scams. The paper also identifies a need for research on legal regulation and investigation procedures, areas for which it reports little existing information.

          

              

    
    

        
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