Romance Scam Research Center

Who can spot an online romance scam?

Whitty, MT. (2019) — Journal of Financial Crime

Type: Journal Article Country: United Kingdom Tags: offender tactics, psychology, AI misuse, risk factors, measurement

This study investigates factors that predict the ability to identify online romance scams, focusing on personality traits, belief systems, domain expertise, and response speed. In an online experiment, 261 participants w...

Cyber Romance Scam Victimization Analysis using Routine Activity Theory Versus Apriori Algorithm

Saad, ME.; Norul, S.; Zamri, M. (2018) — International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications

Type: Journal Article Country: Malaysia Tags: victim experience, offender tactics, law enforcement, prevention

This piece examines Cyber Romance Scam Victimization Analysis using Routine Activity Theory Versus Apriori Algorithm within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines common patterns docu...

Do You Love Me? Psychological Characteristics of Romance Scam Victims

Whitty, MT. (2018) — Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking

Type: Journal Article Country: United Kingdom

Do You Love Me? Psychological Characteristics of Romance Scam Victims, published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, presents a catalog-style overview of how perpetrators exploit online romance scripts a...

Expectations vs reality: Responding to online fraud across the fraud justice network

Cross, C. (2018) — International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice

Type: Journal Article Country: Australia

This catalog-style synopsis surveys how online fraud is addressed within the broader fraud justice network, spanning agencies, institutions, and jurisdictions. Framed by the contrast between stated expectations—rapid res...

Knowledge and Protective Practices of Female Facebook Users Against Love Scams in Malaysia

Abidin, Norazlina Zainal; Kamaluddin, Mohammad Rahim; Shaari, Azianura Hani; Din, Norazura; Ramasamy, Saravanan (2018) — Jurnal Komunikasi: Malaysian Journal of Communication

Type: Journal Article Country: Malaysia

This catalog-style synopsis presents an overview of a study on knowledge and protective practices among female Facebook users in Malaysia in relation to love scams (Penipuan Cinta). The focus lies on how women perceive t...

Suicidal Risk Following the Termination of Romantic Relationships

Love, Heather A.; Nalbone, David P.; Hecker, Lorna L.; Sweeney, Kathryn A.; Dharnidharka, Prerana (2018) — Crisis

Type: Journal Article Country: United States Tags: AI misuse, risk factors, cross-cultural Methods: quantitative

The study is framed by the notion that ending a romantic relationship can be a predictor of suicide attempts, with attachment perspectives suggesting that the experience of breakup may feel overwhelming to individuals wh...

Understanding Romance Fraud: Insights From Domestic Violence Research

Cross, C.; Dragiewicz, M.; Richards, K. (2018) — The British Journal of Criminology

Type: Journal Article Country: Australia

Understanding Romance Fraud: Insights From Domestic Violence Research frames romance fraud as a form of manipulation that shares features with coercive control and financial abuse described in domestic violence scholarsh...

Victimization Analysis Based On Routine Activitiy Theory for Cyber-Love Scam in Malaysia

Saad, ME.; Norul Huda Sheikh Abdullah, S. (2018) — 2018 Cyber Resilience Conference (CRC)

Type: Proceedings Article Country: Malaysia Tags: victim experience, law enforcement, platform policy, prevention Methods: quantitative

This study applies Routine Activity Theory (RAT) to examine factors influencing victimization in cyber-love scams in Malaysia. With cases rising sharply alongside technological advances, the research sought to identify d...

Slumdog romance: Facebook love and digital privacy at the margins

Scheiber, Laura; Arora, Payal (2017) — Media, Culture & Society

Type: Journal Article Country: Netherlands Tags: platform policy, AI misuse, online dating platforms, cross-cultural

This study frames Facebook as a central arena for social life among economically disadvantaged populations in the global South, consolidating a range of online activities into a single, dominant platform. It notes that i...

The Electronic Spanish Prisoner

Gillespie, AA. (2017) — The Journal of Criminal Law

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

This study examines romance frauds, a form of conduct that has recently attracted notable public attention. The central focus is on how such frauds unfold, by guiding a target to believe they are engaged in a genuine rom...