Romance Scam Research Center

A systematic literature review of profiling victims of cyber scams: setting up a framework for future research

Whitty, MT. (2025) — Cogent Social Sciences

Type: Journal Article Country: United Kingdom

This article presents a systematic literature review (SLR) of research profiling victims of cyber scams, aiming to establish a framework for future studies. The review was motivated by the rapid global growth of cyber sc...

Amor, dependencia y aislamiento: El impacto psicológico del romance scam

Pacheco Unguetti, Antonia Pilar; Miranda Gálvez, Azahara Leonor (2025) — Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

Type: Book Chapter Country: Spain

This record offers a general and neutral view of the phenomenon known as romance scam, with an emphasis on the triad between love, emotional dependence and social isolation. The dynamics of seduction, deception and manip...

An Anatomy of ‘Pig Butchering Scams’: Chinese Victims’ and Police Officers’ Perspectives

Han, Bing; Button, Mark (2025) — Deviant Behavior

Type: Journal Article Country: United Kingdom

This article analyzes the hybrid romance–investment scam known as “pig butchering” (Sha Zhu Pan, 杀猪盘) from the perspectives of Chinese victims and police officers. Unlike traditional romance scams, pig butchering fuse...

An Examination of Digital Validation-Seeking Behaviors in Adolescents as Precursors to Romance Scamming

Ohu, Francis; Jones, Laura (2025) — Scientia Moralitas Conference Proceedings

Country: United States Tags: offender tactics, psychology, AI misuse, risk factors, measurement

This study investigates digital validation-seeking behaviors among adolescents and young adults as precursors to romance scamming. It argues that patterns of deceptive online self-presentation, reinforced by social media...

Analyzing the Evolving Modus Operandi of Romance Scams via Court Judgments: Crime Script and Policy Implications

Lee, Hyejin; Boo, Minseo (2025) — KOREAN CRIMINOLOGICAL REVIEW

Type: Journal Article

This article presents a neutral examination of the evolving modus operandi of romance scams through a review of court judgments. Located within the scope of the Korean Criminological Review, the analysis applies a crime...

Digital Deception: Online Fraud Targeting the Elderly – Patterns, Mechanisms, and Policy Responses

Carter, Wendy (2025)

Type: Journal Article Country: Australia Tags: victim experience, psychology, older adults, platform policy, AI misuse, prevention Populations: older adults

This piece examines Digital Deception: Online Fraud Targeting the Elderly – Patterns, Mechanisms, and Policy Responses within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines common patterns do...

Forgiveness-Seeking Behaviors Among Online Romance Fraudsters: Insights from Sakawa Actors in Ghana

Abubakari, Y. (2025) — International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology

Type: Journal Article Country: Poland Tags: victim experience, AI misuse

The study investigates forgiveness-seeking behaviors among online romance scammers operating in Ghana, concentrating on how Sakawa practitioners grapple with moral guilt. By applying Moral Disengagement Theory alongside...

Impact of Cybersecurity Self-Efficacy on Digital Economic Behaviors Among Older Adults

Kim, Sohee (2025) — INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing

Type: Journal Article Country: South Korea Tags: victim experience, older adults, AI misuse, risk factors, prevention Populations: older adults

This piece examines Impact of Cybersecurity Self-Efficacy on Digital Economic Behaviors Among Older Adults within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines common patterns documented in...

Law Enforcement Against Perpetrators Of Romance Fraud In Cyberspace

Munir, Miftahul (2025) — Proceedings of the First International Cyber Law Conference, ICL-C 2023, 11 November 2023, Jakarta, Indonesia

Type: Proceedings Article Country: Indonesia

This piece examines Law Enforcement Against Perpetrators Of Romance Fraud In Cyberspace within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communication. It outlines common patterns documented in the literature, des...

Leveraging Naive Bayesian Machine Learning for Detecting Pig Butchering Scams: A Cybersecurity Social Engineering Perspective in Africa

Diallo, Ousmane; Hassan, Hasnani; Najeeb Zaidan, Muslim (2025) — The 5th International Scientific Conference on Administrative and Financial Sciences (CIC-ISCAFS'2025)

Type: Proceedings Article Country: Malaysia Tags: victim experience, psychology, AI misuse, social engineering, prevention, measurement

This piece examines Leveraging Naive Bayesian Machine Learning for Detecting Pig Butchering Scams: A Cybersecurity Social Engineering Perspective in Africa within the broader context of online fraud and mediated communic...