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More than Money: Examining the Potential Exposure of Romance Fraud Victims to Identity Crime

Cassandra Cross ; Thomas J. Holt (2023) — Global Crime

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DOI: 10.1080/17440572.2023.2185607 (opens in a new tab)

Type:   Journal Article
Country:   Australia
Tags:   Australia, Banking Details, Financial Loss, Identity Crime, Identity Theft, Information Sharing, Prevention Messaging, Romance Scams, Scamwatch
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Synopsis

            
The study analysed deidentified self-reported romance-fraud complaints submitted to Australia's Scamwatch portal from July 2018 to July 2019. After removing duplicates, sextortion cases, and cases with missing data, the final sample comprised 2,699 reports. Three binary logistic regressions estimated correlates of reported loss of banking details, financial loss, and both outcomes. The study found minimal support for demographic characteristics as predictors of reporting identity fraud and theft arising from romance fraud. Information sharing may form part of grooming and precede fraudulent transactions. Scamwatch is an unscreened online self-report portal, so reports may not represent all romance-fraud victims or complainants.

          

        
                  

            
Identified Gaps

            
The paper identifies limited quantitative research on romance fraud, limited study of people targeted without direct financial loss, and a dearth of research on links between romance fraud and identity crime. It was unclear which personal and situational factors increase identity-crime-related financial risk. The authors also identify uncertainty over whether reported financial hardship predates targeting or results from victimisation, and limited knowledge of why victims share information with offenders.

          

        
                  

            
Methods

            
The study analysed deidentified self-reported romance-fraud complaints submitted to Australia’s Scamwatch portal from July 2018 to July 2019. After removing duplicates, sextortion cases, and cases with missing data, the final sample comprised 2,699 reports. Three binary logistic regressions estimated correlates of reported loss of banking details, financial loss, and both outcomes. Predictors included contact channel, personal-detail loss, residence, vulnerability indicators, age, and gender.

          

        
                  

            
Limitations

            
Scamwatch is an unscreened online self-report portal, so reports may not represent all romance-fraud victims or complainants. Responses were not mandatory; terms had limited definitions or guidance; complainant interpretations, recall, and accuracy may vary; and the ACCC did not verify reports. The predominantly Australian reporting population limits generalisability internationally. The data cannot establish why information was shared or whether financial hardship existed before targeting versus resulted from victimisation.

          

        
                  

            
Future Work

            
Use comprehensive international samples to test factors associated with personal-information loss and financial loss. Combine qualitative and quantitative research with victim populations to establish whether financial hardship preceded targeting or followed victimisation. Examine the context and rationale for information sharing during romance fraud and its relationship to later financial loss and identity-crime exposure. More broadly, investigate the interplay between romance fraud and other offence types.

          

              

    
    

        
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