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Who can spot an online romance scam?
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Whitty, Monica T. (2019) Who can spot an online romance scam? Journal of Financial Crime, 26 (2). pp. 623-633. doi:10.1108/JFC-06-2018-0053 ISSN 1359-0790.
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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1108/JFC-06-2018-0053
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines predictors (personality, belief systems, expertise and response time) of detecting online romance scams.
Design/methodology/approach
The online study asked 261 participants to rate whether a profile was a scam or a genuine profile. Participants were also asked to complete a personality inventory, belief scales, and demographic, descriptive questions. The online study was also designed to measure response time.
Findings
It was found that those who scored low in romantic beliefs, high in impulsivity, high in consideration of future consequences, had previously spotted a romance scam, and took longer response times, were more likely to accurately distinguish scams from genuine profiles. Notably, the research also
found that it was difficult to detect scams. The research also found that it was important to adapt Whitty’s (2013) ‘Scammers Persuasuive Techniques Model’ to include a stage named: ‘human detection of scam versus genuine profiles’.
Originality/value
This is the first study, to the author’s knowledge, that examines predictors of human accuracy in detecting romance scams. Dating sites and government e-safety sites might draw upon these findings to help improve human detection and protect users from this financial and psychologically harmful cyberscam.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||||
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Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare |
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Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Engineering > WMG (Formerly the Warwick Manufacturing Group) | ||||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Internet fraud, Online dating | ||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Journal of Financial Crime | ||||||
Publisher: | Emerald Publishing Limited | ||||||
ISSN: | 1359-0790 | ||||||
Official Date: | 28 February 2019 | ||||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | 26 | ||||||
Number: | 2 | ||||||
Page Range: | pp. 623-633 | ||||||
DOI: | 10.1108/JFC-06-2018-0053 | ||||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | ||||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 17 September 2018 | ||||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 17 April 2019 | ||||||
Related URLs: |
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