Online Romance Scams: Relational Dynamics and Psychological Characteristics of the Victims and Scammers. A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background: Digital communication technologies can overcome physical, social and psychological barriers in building romantic relationships. Online romance scams are a modern form of fraud that has spread in Western societies along with the development of social media and dating apps. Through a fictitious Internet profile, the scammer develops a romantic relationship with the victim for 6-8 months, building a deep emotional bond to extort economic resources in a manipulative dynamic. There are two notable features: on the one hand, the double trauma of losing money and a relationship, on the other, the victim's shame upon discovery of the scam, an aspect that might lead to underestimation of the number of cases. Objectives: This paper presents a scoping review of the quantitative and qualitative evidence on this issue, focusing on epidemiological aspects, relational dynamics, and the psychological characteristics of victims and scammers. Methods: A literature scoping review was conducted using electronic databases and descriptors. Studies were included if they had analyzed the phenomenon in any population or the relationship dynamics characterizing it through whatsoever typology of design. Scoping reviews are a form of knowledge synthesis, which incorporates a range of study designs and wide eligibility criteria to comprehensively summarize evidence with the aim of informing practice, programs, and policy and providing direction to future research priorities. Results: Twelve studies were included. Sixty-three percent of social media users and 3% of the general population report having been a victim at least once. Some psychological variables appear to be associated with the risk of being scammed, such as female gender, middle-age, higher levels of neuroticism, tendencies to the romantic idealization of affective relations, sensation seeking, impulsiveness and susceptibility to addiction. We analyse literature limitations and future directions. Conclusion: Since this emerging phenomenon is still largely unrecognized, understanding the psychological characteristics of victims and scammers will allow at-risk personality profiles to be identified and prevention/intervention strategies to be developed.

DSM-5 personality trait facets amongst child molesters: an exploratory comparison with other types of offenders

“…It is well-established that personality pathology represents an individual vulnerability factor which can predict an increased risk for any type of crime [ 1 – 3 ]. Prevalence rates of diagnoses of personality disorders range between 42 and 78% in prisoners (e.g., [ 4 ]), being much higher than the rates usually observed in the general population, i.e., 4–13% [ 2 , 5 ].…”

Strategi Komunikasi Penjenayah Cinta Siber Terhadap Wanita Profesional

“…Bank Negara Malaysia juga terlibat sebagai rakan strategik di samping badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) dan kumpulan pemimpin masyarakat (KKMM 2019). Manakala Coluccia et al (2020) pula mencadangkan jalinan hubungan rakan strategik seperti institusi undang-undang dan perkhidmatan kesihatan mental juga perlu diambil kira sebagai strategi pembangunan protokol penyelidikan. Pusat penjagaan kesihatan mental perlu menggunakan alat saringan pemantau risiko jenayah cinta siber bagi membantu mangsa yang mengalami gangguan psikologi dan memerlukan bantuan klinikal.…”

Non-intimate Relationships and Psychopathic Interpersonal and Affective Deficits as Risk Factors for Criminal Career: A Comparison Between Sex Offenders and Other Offenders

“…Psychiatric disorders play an important role as well. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder ( Carabellese et al, 2012 ; Pozza et al, 2019 , 2020 ) and mood and personality disorders ( Dunsieth et al, 2004 ; Coluccia et al, 2020 ) were detected in sex offenders. In their research on a sample of 1346 sex offenders, Eher et al (2019) found that 50.1% of them suffered from personality disorders.…”