Buchanan, Tom and Whitty, Monica T. (2013) The online dating romance scam : causes and consequences of victimhood. Psychology, Crime & Law, 20 (3). pp. 261-283. doi:10.1080/1068316X.2013.772180

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Abstract

The online dating romance scam is a relatively new and under-reported international crime targeting users of online dating sites. It has serious financial and emotional consequences, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. However, little if anything is known about psychological characteristics that may put people at risk of romance scam victimization, or influence how they react to it. Online daters (N=853) and participants recruited from a victim support site (N=397) completed a battery of online questionnaires. High scores on the romantic belief of Idealization were associated with likelihood of being a romance scam victim. Victims experienced significant emotional distress as well as financial losses. Even respondents who reported being fooled by scammers, but who had not lost any money, reported significant distress. Level of emotional distress was associated with high Neuroticism, and also with high Loneliness and low Openness to Experience among victims not losing money. The findings have implications for the feasibility of crime-prevention measures based on victim characteristics, and for treatment of victims by law enforcement and other stakeholders.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Engineering > WMG (Formerly the Warwick Manufacturing Group)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Internet fraud, Online dating, Single men -- crimes against, Single women -- crimes against, Single people -- crimes against
Journal or Publication Title:	Psychology, Crime & Law
Publisher:	Routledge
ISSN:	1068-316X
Official Date:	28 March 2013
Dates:	Date Event 28 March 2013 Published 17 December 2012 Accepted 16 February 2012 Submitted
Volume:	20
Number:	3
Page Range:	pp. 261-283
DOI:	10.1080/1068316X.2013.772180
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder:	Economic and Social Research Council (Great Britain) (ESRC)
Grant number:	RES-000-22-4022

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