Romance Scam Research Center

Modelling the modus operandi of online romance fraud: Perspectives of online romance fraudsters

Abubakari, Yushawu (2024) — Journal of Economic Criminology

Type: Journal Article Country: Poland

This article offers a catalog-style, neutral synopsis of research on modelling the modus operandi of online romance fraud, drawing on perspectives attributed to the perpetrators themselves. Positioned within the field of...

More Than Just a “Bad” Online Experience: Risk Factors and Characteristics of Catfishing Fraud Victimization

Snyder, Jamie A.; Golladay, Katelyn (2024) — Deviant Behavior

Type: Journal Article Country: United States

This study examines the relatively underexplored area of catfishing victimization—cases where individuals are deceived online but not necessarily defrauded financially. Using survey data from 1,511 social media and datin...

Pig Butchering in Cybersecurity: A Modern Social Engineering Threat

L. Burton, Dr. Sharon; D. (Vickerson) Moore, Dr. Pamela (2024) — SocioEconomic Challenges

Type: Journal Article Country: United States Tags: victim experience, psychology, law enforcement, platform policy, AI misuse, online dating platforms, social engineering, risk factors, prevention, measurement, cross-cultural Methods: interview, qualitative

Pig butchering represents an expanding cybersecurity threat that relies on social engineering to establish trust and execute financial fraud. The relevance of this issue lies in the growing frequency and sophistication o...

Proses Penerimaan Pesan oleh Masyarakat Terkait Fenomena Catfishing Bea Cukai Menggunakan Modus Online Shop Melalui Media Sosial Instagram

Riandhika Hermawan, Adhitya; Yuliasari, Ika; Elizabeth Ayuna, Novianty (2024) — Ranah Research : Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development

Type: Journal Article Country: Indonesia Tags: AI misuse

This piece examines Proses Penerimaan Pesan oleh Masyarakat Terkait Fenomena Catfishing Bea Cukai Menggunakan Modus Online Shop Melalui Media Sosial Instagram within the broader context of online fraud and mediated commu...

Relationship fraud: Romance, friendship and family frauds

Button, Mark; Carter, Elisabeth (2024) — Journal of Economic Criminology

Type: Journal Article Country: United Kingdom

Relationship fraud refers to intentional deception in which trust within intimate or interpersonal ties—romance, friendship, and family relationships—is exploited to obtain money, property, or other benefits. The topic c...

Romance Scam and Legal Interpreting/Translation

Mouri, Masako (2024) — IICAH Official Conference Proceedings

Type: Proceedings Article Country: Japan Tags: AI misuse

This catalog entry describes shifts in criminal activity associated with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, focusing on how restrictions on the movement of people and goods altered illicit flows. Physical channe...

Romance Scamming: Uncovering the Transnational Crime and Legal Challenges

Rabby, F.; Chowdory, MMU. (2024) — International Journal of Law and Societal Studies

Type: Journal Article Country: Bangladesh Tags: victim experience, law enforcement, AI misuse, cross-cultural Methods: interview, qualitative

This piece examines Romance Scamming: Uncovering the Transnational Crime and Legal Challenges within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines common patterns documented in the literatur...

Scammed by Love: The Role of Loneliness, Trust, and Age in Financial Losses from U.S. Online Romance Scams

Cole, R. (2024) — Innovation in Aging

Type: Journal Article Country: United States Tags: victim experience, older adults, AI misuse, measurement, cross-cultural Populations: older adults Methods: survey, quantitative

This piece examines SCAMMED BY LOVE: THE ROLE OF LONELINESS, TRUST, AND AGE IN FINANCIAL LOSSES FROM U.S. ONLINE ROMANCE SCAMS within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines common pat...

The charade of discreetness: Exploring the paradoxical lifestyles of romance fraudsters

Barnor, J. (2024) — Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling

Type: Journal Article Country: Ghana Tags: law enforcement, AI misuse, prevention, measurement Methods: interview, qualitative

This article investigates the mechanisms that shape why romance fraud perpetrators publicly display wealth, a line of inquiry that has received limited attention in prior research. The study gathered data through semi-st...

The cyber-industrialization of catfishing and romance fraud

Wang, Fangzhou; Topalli, Volkan (2024) — Computers in Human Behavior

Type: Journal Article Country: United States Tags: victim experience, platform policy, AI misuse

The article investigates a contemporary variant of online fraud that builds on romance scams and catfishing but is distinguished by its industrialized form, enabled by corporate practices, software platforms, and service...