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

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

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DOI: 10.24966/ggm-8662/100265 (opens in a new tab)

Type:   Journal Article
Country:   United Kingdom
Tags:   Financial Abuse, Loneliness, Mental Capacity, Multi Agency Response, Older Adults, Psychology, Romance Scams, Safeguarding, Undue Influence, Victim Experience
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Synopsis

            
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, with a focus on older adults as a particularly vulnerable segment. Digital platforms such as dating sites, social networks, and messaging services are described in relation to how they can facilitate rapid rapport, plausible narratives, and requests for funds. The discussion traces the general arc of such schemes—from initial contact and relationship-building to financial requests—without citing any specific cases or data points. The piece surveys risk factors that may heighten vulnerability among older adults, including social isolation, perceived companionship needs, and varying levels of trust in online environments. It considers how scammers adapt strategies to perceived weaknesses and how emotional investment can influence decision-making, all presented in descriptive terms rather than prescriptive advice. The article also examines the roles of media literacy, platform safeguards, and community awareness, offering a broad overview of mechanisms by which harm can unfold and persist. Consequences are described in general terms, noting financial losses, psychological distress, and potential physical harm that can accompany these scams. The synopsis outlines the range of impact on individuals, families, and communities—affecting autonomy, confidence in online services, and willingness to engage with digital platforms. The piece concludes with a broad look at policy, prevention, and support infrastructure, emphasizing the availability of resources and the need for coordinated responses while acknowledging the diversity of experiences among older adults.

          

        
                  

            
Identified Gaps

            
The review identifies practical weaknesses in enforcement: safeguarding professionals report few successful outcomes, citing difficulties obtaining sufficient evidence and competing criminal-justice priorities. The article calls for stronger platform responsibility, better-resourced legal and police services, financial-sector collaboration, and international cooperation, indicating gaps in coordinated prevention, detection, investigation, and victim support. It does not present empirical evaluation of these responses.

          

        
                  

            
Methods

            
Narrative review article synthesizing cited literature, statutory provisions, case law, and practice-oriented discussion. It examines older adults’ social, digital, psychological, cognitive, and mental-health-related vulnerability to romance scams; describes scam tactics and harms; and discusses safeguarding and legal responses under the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, and Mental Health Act 1983, primarily for England and Wales.

          

        
                  

            
Limitations

            
This is a review and practice-focused legal/health-and-social-care discussion rather than an original empirical study. The supplied text provides no systematic search strategy, eligibility criteria, sample, data collection, quantitative synthesis, or outcome evaluation. Its legal analysis is explicitly centred on England and Wales, so practical and legal recommendations may not directly transfer to other jurisdictions despite claimed global relevance.

          

        
                  

            
Future Work

            
Evaluate whether multi-agency safeguarding involving health care, social services, police, and financial institutions reduces losses and improves support for older victims. Assess training and awareness initiatives for community care professionals. Examine effectiveness of public-awareness campaigns, platform regulation, bank fraud detection, therapeutic support, and international investigative cooperation.

          

              

    
    

        
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