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Examining fifty cases of convicted online romance fraud offenders

Soares, Adebayo Benedict ; Lazarus, Suleman (2024) — Criminal Justice Studies

DOI: 10.1080/1478601x.2024.2429088
Type:   Journal Article
Country:   Nigeria
Tags:   online romance fraud, convicted offenders, Nigeria, fake profiles, impersonation, Facebook, victim targeting, Space Transition Theory

Synopsis (AI-Generated)

This study used documentary and content analysis of 50 Economic and Financial Crimes Commission case files ending in romance-scam convictions during 2023-2024 at one Nigerian Zonal Command. Researchers cross-checked offender statements against investigation reports and coded offender, victim, platform, and loss variables. Facebook was the initiating platform in 46% of cases; 70% of offenders primarily targeted women, U.S. victims accounted for 56% of cases, and documented cumulative victim loss was USD 31,488. The case files offer direct information about convicted offenders but not the wider offending population. One regional command, prosecution-oriented records, and selection only of cases producing final convictions limit geographic and behavioral generalization.

Identified Gaps (AI-Generated)

The paper identifies limited direct research on convicted romance-fraud offenders and their motivations, particularly in Nigeria. It also identifies a need to understand regional cybercrime dynamics, female offender participation, gendered victimization, and the role of different social-media platforms in enabling romance fraud.

Methods (AI-Generated)

The study conducted documentary and content analysis of 50 EFCC case files involving final convictions for romance scams from 2023–2024 at one Nigerian Zonal Command. It applied Scott's framework for document analysis, cross-referenced handwritten offender statements against investigation reports, recorded offender and victim variables in Excel, and interpreted findings using Space Transition Theory.

Limitations (AI-Generated)

The sample comprises only 50 convicted offenders from one EFCC Zonal Command in southern Nigeria. Convicted offenders may not represent the broader cybercriminal population, and the location of the source office may bias the reported southern concentration. Case files were created for prosecution rather than research, which may impose contextual limitations.

Future Work (AI-Generated)

Expand samples across multiple EFCC Zonal Commands and regions in Nigeria. Examine how social-media platforms enable different cybercrime methods. Investigate gender dynamics, including female perpetrators and victims, and assess the effectiveness of targeted intervention strategies.

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AI-Generated Content Notice

The synopsis and research notes on this page were generated with AI from available publication information and, when available, the uploaded paper text. They may contain errors, omissions, or interpretation issues. Readers should follow the DOI or source link, review the original publication, and make their own judgment about the content.

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