https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6212-3047
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ABSTRACT
Online romance fraud occurs when an offender uses deception to present a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust and then defrauds the victim in some way. Despite the crime’s serious impact, there is a lack of empirical knowledge regarding the processes by which it is carried out. Specifically, little is known about how the reciprocal interaction – or feedback – between online romance fraudsters and victims facilitates the crime. This study addresses this gap by using a randomized experimental design to explore how variations in potential reward presented by a fictional victim influence the strategies of fraudsters. To guide our examination, we draw from the hyperpersonal model of communication. Our analysis of sequential email exchanges with 94 online romance fraudsters reveals that their self-selective strategies are shaped by a feedback process between their messages and the victim’s impressions. We discuss implications for online romance fraud and the hyperpersonal model of communication.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1. Social information processing theory (SIP) explores how individuals develop relationships and interpret social cues in online communication environments. Developed by Joseph Walther, SIP challenges the idea that computer-mediated communication (CMC) is inferior due to the lack of nonverbal cues present in face-to-face interactions. Instead, SIP suggests that users compensate by relying heavily on verbal cues like language use and message content to form impressions and build relationships over time. The theory also introduces the hyperpersonal model, which posits that relationships formed through CMC can be more intense and intimate than those in face-to-face settings, due to users’ ability to carefully manage their online personas. Despite the challenges of interpreting social context without physical cues, SIP underscores the adaptability of individuals in forming meaningful connections through extended and consistent online interaction.
2. Our entire research design received approval from the Institutional Review Board at Georgia State University (H21289). Throughout the study we adhered to the following ethical safeguards: 1) no demographic or personal information was collected from the subjects; 2) all collected emails were stored on a password-protected encrypted hard drive; 3) only research personnel had access to the data; 4) once data collection was completed all emails were deleted from the email server; 5) a unique name was assigned to each email string and the email address and any other identifying information in the emails was redacted.
3. Note that we used Microsoft Word’s character count to calculate the number of characters used in fraudsters’ conversations with the ‘victim’.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Fangzhou Wang
Fangzhou Wang is currently an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Arlington. Wang’s research pursuits revolve around understanding the intricate behaviors, particularly linguistic aspects, exhibited by online romance fraudsters. Her focus also extends to investigating the risk and protective factors that influence individuals falling victim to online romance scams. Moreover, her interests encompass exploring various forms of image-based violence prevalent in the digital realm.
Timothy Dickinson
Timothy Dickinson’s work focuses on exploring how various elements influence the decisions, actions, and identities of persons involved in criminal activity. His current research examines the forces that shape predatory offenders and illicit drug sellers’ definitions of money and time and, in turn, how these definitions play into their daily lives and crimes. His current research also explores how online romance fraudsters’ guide their interactions with victims while attempting to carry out their crimes.