Romance Scam Research Center

Automatically Dismantling Online Dating Fraud

Suarez-Tangil, Guillermo; Edwards, Matthew; Peersman, Claudia; Stringhini, Gianluca; Rashid, Awais; Whitty, Monica (2020) — IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security

Type: Journal Article Country: United Kingdom

Automatically Dismantling Online Dating Fraud is positioned as a study of deceptive activity on dating platforms and a proposal for an automated approach to counter it. The article defines common fraud scenarios such as...

Contextualised Cyber Security Awareness Approach for Online Romance Fraud

Dickerson, S.; Apeh, E.; Ollis, G. (2020) — 2020 7th International Conference on Behavioural and Social Computing (BESC)

Type: Proceedings Article Country: United Kingdom Tags: victim experience, platform policy, AI misuse, prevention, measurement

Romance fraud caused substantial financial loss in 2018, with 50 million pounds reported and a 27 percent rise from the prior year, despite increased publicity and guidance on the issue. This pattern indicates that roman...

Devices of Textual Illusion: Victimization in Romance Scam E-Letters

Dreijers, G.; Rudziša, V. (2020) — Research in Language

Type: Journal Article Country: Latvia Tags: victim experience, psychology, AI misuse, cross-cultural

Virtual communication extends beyond national borders and facilitates swift, ongoing contact, but it also tests the integrity of online interactions and raises questions about ethical conduct in digital spaces. In partic...

Distort, Extort, Deceive and Exploit: Exploring the Inner Workings of a Romance Fraud

Carter, E. (2020) — The British Journal of Criminology

Type: Journal Article Country: United Kingdom Tags: victim experience, offender tactics, AI misuse, prevention

This piece examines Distort, Extort, Deceive and Exploit: Exploring the Inner Workings of a Romance Fraud within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines common patterns documented in t...

How Do Individuals Justify and Rationalize their Criminal Behaviors in Online Romance Fraud?

Offei, M.; Andoh-Baidoo, FK.; Ayaburi, EW.; Asamoah, D. (2020) — Information Systems Frontiers

Type: Journal Article Country: Ghana Tags: victim experience, offender tactics, AI misuse

This study investigates how offenders justify and rationalize their participation in online romance fraud (ORF) by applying neutralization theory and denial of risk theory. Unlike most research that focuses on victims, t...

Love scam in cyberspace

Thiel, C. (2020) — Cyberkriminologie

Type: Book Chapter Country: Germany

Internet-based romance fraud refers to deceptive practices in the context of online dating, where perpetrators make contact with potential victims under false identities. Typical profiles use attractive images, credible...

Mapping Computer Mediated Communication Theories and Persuasive Strategies in Analysing Online Dating Romance Scam

Annadorai, Kalaivani; Krish, Pramela; Shaari, Azianura Hani; Kamaluddin, Mohammad Rahim (2020) — Journal of Xidian University

Type: Journal Article Country: Malaysia

This article presents a neutral, catalog-style overview of the intersection between computer-mediated communication (CMC) theory and the persuasive techniques observed in online dating romance scams. Framed as a mapping...

Online Romance Scams: Relational Dynamics and Psychological Characteristics of the Victims and Scammers. A Scoping Review

Coluccia, A.; Pozza, A.; Ferretti, F.; Carabellese, F.; Masti, A.; Gualtieri, G. (2020) — Clinical Practice & Epidemiology in Mental Health

Type: Journal Article Country: Italy Tags: victim experience, offender tactics, psychology, platform policy, AI misuse, online dating platforms, risk factors, prevention Methods: interview, qualitative, quantitative

Digital communication tools can help overcome physical, social, and psychological barriers to forming romantic connections. At the same time, online romance scams represent a contemporary form of fraud that has spread in...

Psychological Correlates of Ghosting and Breadcrumbing Experiences: A Preliminary Study among Adults

Navarro, Raúl; Larrañaga, Elisa; Yubero, Santiago; Víllora, Beatriz (2020) — International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Type: Journal Article Country: Spain Tags: psychology, AI misuse, measurement Methods: survey, quantitative

This piece examines Psychological Correlates of Ghosting and Breadcrumbing Experiences: A Preliminary Study among Adults within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines common patterns...

Romance Fraud

Cross, C. (2020) — The Palgrave Handbook of International Cybercrime and Cyberdeviance

Type: Book Chapter Country: Australia Tags: victim experience, AI misuse

Romance fraud constitutes a pattern in which an individual masks financial intent behind a forged romantic connection. Offenders present themselves as consistent, appealing partners to cultivate trust and emotional depen...