Educating students on the behavioral and psychological aspects of romance scam victimization via a social engineering competition
Bleiman, Rachel; Park, Hwanhee; Rege, Aunshul (2025) — Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice
Type: Journal Article
Tags: victim experience, offender tactics, psychology, platform policy, AI misuse, social engineering
Populations: students
The online dating sector generated 2.98 billion USD in 2023 and is projected to reach about 3.6 billion USD by 2025. Within this space, romance scams impose substantial financial losses, estimated at 1.3 billion USD in 2...
Love as Bait: A Scoping Review and Crime Script Analysis of Online Romance Scams
Schokkenbroek, JM.; Snaphaan, T. (2025) — Trauma, Violence, & Abuse
This piece examines Love as Bait: A Scoping Review and Crime Script Analysis of Online Romance Scams within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines common patterns documented in the li...
Modus Operandi and Blockchain Analysis of Romance Scams: Cryptocurrency-Driven Victimization
Lim, A.; Choi, KS. (2025) — International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime
Type: Journal Article
Country: United States
This piece examines Modus Operandi and Blockchain Analysis of Romance Scams: Cryptocurrency-Driven Victimization within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines common patterns document...
Poster: Longitudinal Analysis of Romance Scam Infrastructure Evolution: Evidence of Strategic Legitimization
Ryu, Nayeon; Suh, Heeyeong; Lee, Seyoung (2025) — Proceedings of the 2025 ACM SIGSAC Conference on Computer and Communications Security
Type: Proceedings Article
Country: South Korea
This poster provides a longitudinal analysis of the infrastructure that underpins romance scams, tracing how the supporting systems and operational practices have evolved across an extended time frame. The discussion cen...
ROMANCE AND RUIN: THE INTERPLAY OF FINANCIAL LOSS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AMONG LOVE SCAM VICTIMS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Dr. Rhem Rick N. Corpuz; Mary Joy G. Galang; Kim Hope S. Gueco; Kate D. Pamintuan (2025) — EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR)
Type: Journal Article
Tags: victim experience, offender tactics, psychology, AI misuse, online dating platforms, prevention, measurement
Methods: survey
This paper examines the relationship between financial loss and psychological well-being among victims of online romance scams in the Philippines using a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design. The study surveyed 38...
Romance Scam Victimization: A Survey-Based Examination of Financial, Psychological, and Reporting Factors
Herrera, LD (2025) — 2025 13th International Symposium on Digital Forensics and Security (ISDFS)
Type: Proceedings Article
Country: United States
Tags: victim experience, psychology, AI misuse, Artificial Intelligence
Methods: survey, quantitative
Romance scams constitute a rising form of cybercrime in which perpetrators cultivate deceitful romantic relationships to extract financial resources, causing substantial economic and psychological harm while remaining ma...
Romance Scams and Older Adults: A Health and Social Care Perspective
Sorinmade, Oluwatoyin; Emmett, Charlotte; Elugbadebo, Olufisayo; Okolo, Chidera (2025) — Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
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,...
Romanssihuijaus - rakkauden varjolla tehty kyberrikos
Type: Journal Article
Country: Finland
Tags: AI misuse
The paper analyzes romance scams as a distinct and serious form of cybercrime, emphasizing that these schemes rely on emotional manipulation rather than purely financial deception. Offenders build fabricated romantic rel...
The Gamification of Online Romance Fraud through Offenders’ Cards
Abubakari, Yushawu; Oseh-Ovarah, Valeen (2025) — Digital Threats: Research and Practice
This study addresses the persistence of online romance fraud in Ghana and treats offenders as strategic players within a game-theoretic framework. By viewing fraudulent encounters as a strategic contest, the researchers...
The prevention of online romance scams using a crime script analysis from the victim’s perspective
Wang, Fangzhou; Kelsay, James D (2025) — International Review of Victimology
Type: Journal Article
Country: United States
Tags: victim experience, offender tactics, platform policy, AI misuse, social engineering, prevention, measurement, cross-cultural
Online romance scams (ORS) have grown in severity, exploiting human vulnerabilities and trust through social engineering, which underscores the need for robust preventive strategies. This study advances the field by deve...
Romance Scam Research Center (RSRC)
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