Skip to main content

The client’s consent strengthens the ‘Gamers’ hand; The deterrence theory’s perspective of the Internet romance fraudsters.

Toku, L. ; Otu Offei, M. (2023) — International Journal of Technology and Management Research

DOI: 10.47127/ijtmr.v8i1.164
Type:   Journal Article
Country:   Ghana
Tags:   victim experience, law enforcement, AI misuse, measurement, cross-cultural, internet romance fraud, offenders, deterrence theory, punishment, shame, criminal intention, Ghana, PLS-SEM

Synopsis (AI-Generated)

This study surveyed 320 alleged internet-romance-fraud offenders recruited through internet-cafe and university-campus hotspots in Ghana using convenience and snowball sampling. A five-point questionnaire measured certainty and severity of punishment and shame, intention to offend, and self-reported fraud; the authors analyzed relationships with partial least-squares structural equation modeling. Punishment certainty and severity had significant negative relationships with offending intention, while shame dimensions were negative but not significant; intention was positively related to reported actual fraud. The results distinguish formal deterrence from informal shame in this sample, but they do not show that punishment changes caused behavior. Nonprobability hotspot recruitment, self-report by a hidden population, one national context, and omission of sanction speed limit inference.

Identified Gaps (AI-Generated)

The paper identifies contradictory deterrence findings across crime contexts, limiting direct transfer of prior results to internet romance fraud. It excludes celerity because conviction takes time in this crime, leaving timing of sanctions unexamined. Its discussion also indicates a need for evidence on effective detection, prosecution, and user/platform measures against romance fraud.

Methods (AI-Generated)

The study surveyed 320 alleged internet romance fraudsters (“gamers”) recruited from validated internet-café and university-campus hotspots in Ghana. It combined snowball and convenience sampling because the population is secretive and anonymous. A 5-point Likert survey measured shame certainty/severity, punishment certainty/severity, fraud intention, and actual defraud. Measures were validated through meetings with 18 practitioners and two information-systems experts, followed by a pilot. The authors used reliability/validity tests and PLS-SEM/SmartPLS to model deterrence dimensions, intention, and actual fraud.

Limitations (AI-Generated)

The secretive, anonymous nature of romance fraud meant the offender population could not be identified and required nonprobability convenience and snowball sampling. Participants were recruited from Ghanaian hotspots, which may constrain generalizability beyond these settings. Measures were self-reported by alleged offenders, creating potential response and social-desirability concerns. The model omitted deterrence celerity because convictions take time, so it does not test the effect of sanction speed.

Future Work (AI-Generated)

Future studies could test the deterrence model across additional crime and national contexts, given the paper’s stated cross-context contradictions. They could also examine celerity and assess whether stronger detection, prosecution, and platform-focused interventions alter offenders’ intentions or behavior.

Related Research Insights

See how this publication connects to RSRC's living evidence syntheses through current citations and research-topic mapping.

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.

Found a possible error? Request a correction.