A scoping review of online romance scams: Conceptual construction and comparative analysis
Wang, Fangzhou (2026) — International Review of Victimology
Type: Journal Article
Country: Global
Tags: victim experience, offender tactics, psychology, platform policy, money mules, prevention, scoping review, online romance scams, AFRS, InvRS, pig-butchering, typology, victim vulnerabilities, cross-border policy, PRISMA, cross-language synthesis, victimology, cross-cultural, transnational crime
This scoping review synthesizes findings from a body of 62 empirical investigations to construct a framework that differentiates two primary forms of online romance scams: advance fee romance scams and investment-based r...
‘Love is a powerful force and in our pursuit of it we are easily blinded’: Examining negative consequences experienced by catfishing fraud victims
Golladay, Katelyn A; Snyder, Jamie A (2025) — International Review of Victimology
Type: Journal Article
Country: United States
Tags: victim experience, platform policy, measurement
Digital victimization is increasingly observed as a societal concern, with individuals concealing their true identities behind screens to manipulate and target others who are seeking friendship or companionship online. T...
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...
The victimology of online fraud: A focus on romance fraud victimisation
Drew, Jacqueline M.; Webster, Julianne (2024) — Journal of Economic Criminology
Type: Journal Article
Country: Australia
This article provides a catalog-style overview of victimology in online fraud, with a focus on romance fraud victimisation. Situating online scams within the broader field of economic criminology, the work outlines how v...
