What do we know about online romance fraud studies? A systematic review of the empirical literature (2000 to 2021)

Lazarus, Suleman; Whittaker, Jack Mark; McGuire, Morgan; Platt, Lucinda

doi:10.1016/j.jeconc.2023.100013

Cited by 30 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Emotional exhaustion has been linked to increased susceptibility to online scams, with internal control playing a vital mediating role in this relationship (Lazarus et al, 2023).…”

Section: Relationship Between Emotional Exhaustion Low Internal Contr...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological Impact on the Public Susceptible to Online Scams

Osman,

Alwi,

Ahmad Khan

2024

IJARBSS

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This study delves into the nuanced interplay of direct and indirect relationships between depression, anxiety, emotional exhaustion, and susceptibility, with low internal control acting as a mediator in the context of online scams among the working adult population. Centralizing on the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, data collection involved the administration of a meticulous survey questionnaire, yielding a robust dataset of 306 clean responses. Employing the sophisticated analytical capabilities of SmartPLS 4, the findings illuminate low internal control as a pivotal determinant, wielding the most substantial influence on intention while concurrently showcasing the lowest performance score. The implications of these findings are extensive, suggesting targeted interventions to alleviate depression, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion as impactful strategies for fortifying internal control. This, in turn, holds the promise of reducing susceptibility to online scams within the demographic of working adults. Emphasizing practical relevance, the study underscores the significance of workplace initiatives promoting mental health, while advocating for future research endeavors to explore the multifaceted impact of emerging technologies and organizational culture on the dynamic landscape of cybersecurity. Adopting a holistic approach, the study's insights offer actionable recommendations for individuals and organizations alike, fostering the development of comprehensive strategies to elevate cybersecurity resilience within the contemporary digital workplace.

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“…Emotional exhaustion has been linked to increased susceptibility to online scams, with internal control playing a vital mediating role in this relationship (Lazarus et al, 2023).…”

Section: Relationship Between Emotional Exhaustion Low Internal Contr...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological Impact on the Public Susceptible to Online Scams

Osman,

Alwi,

Ahmad Khan

2024

IJARBSS

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“…However, these features have also provided a wide scope for online cybercrimes. One prevalent form of cybercrime is online romance fraud, which has become widespread with the advent of social media and dating apps [6]. Online romance fraud occurs when a criminal adopts a false online identity to deceive and gain love and trust [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One prevalent form of cybercrime is online romance fraud, which has become widespread with the advent of social media and dating apps [6]. Online romance fraud occurs when a criminal adopts a false online identity to deceive and gain love and trust [6]. Over the past few years, scammers have increasingly applied artificial intelligence (AI) to overcome language and cultural barriers, adding a new layer of sophistication to their deceptive tactics [7,8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Induced erotomania by online romance fraud - a novel form of de Clérambault’s syndrome

Alotti,

Osvath,

Tenyi

et al. 2024

BMC Psychiatry

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Background Although the impact of internet usage on mental health is extensively documented, there is a notable scarcity of reports in the literature concerning internet-induced erotomania. Erotomania is a rare and likely underdiagnosed delusional disorder. It is characterized by an irrational belief held by the affected persons that someone of higher socioeconomic status harbor romantic feelings toward them. Here, we describe the psychopathology of erotomanic delusion induced by online romantic fraud in a female patient. Employing this case as a focal point, we illuminate novel aspects of erotomania that warrant attention and examination. Case presentation We present a compelling case involving a 70-year-old married Caucasian woman diagnosed with medically controlled persistent depressive disorder for several years. The intricacies of her condition became evident as she became deeply engrossed in online profiles featuring the image of a renowned musician, inadvertently falling victim to an online romantic fraud. Subsequently, this distressing experience triggered the emergence of erotomanic delusions and a suicide attempt. The patient's history reveals an array of medical conditions and stressful life events, contributing to her vulnerability. The diagnosis of erotomanic delusional disorder, dysthymia, and mild cognitive impairment with cerebral vascular background was established. Treatment involved her previous antidepressant with low-dose risperidone, alongside supportive individual and group therapy. Her delusion showed remission four weeks later, prompting her discharge for outpatient follow-up. Although she retained some false beliefs, the intensity of the symptoms had notably diminished and her functionality improved. Conclusion This case underscores the complex interplay between mental health, online activities, and the consequences of delusions, including suicidal thoughts, shedding light on the need for a comprehensive approach in addressing such challenging psychiatric scenarios.

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“…The intentions and motivations of people who decide to carry out this type of relationship vary considerably. We will address certain aspects of such relationships based on a meta-analysis carried out by Lazarus et al [49]. The analysis that compares real-life relationships and online relationships described in the meta-analysis indicates several key aspects, i.e., (1) dehumanisation of partners in online relationships from the very beginning, (2) instrumental, most frequently financial, motivation to seek online relationships, also appearing as the main, and unfortunately, the only one in the case of such relationships, and (3) manipulation, including extortion or other law-breaking methods, to maximise financial and psychological exploitation of a person trapped under the pretext of a romantic relationship, evident from the very beginning in relationships aimed at romantic deception.…”

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confidence: 99%

Alexithymia in the Narratization of Romantic Relationships: The Mediating Role of Fear of Intimacy

Zdankiewicz-Ścigała,

Ścigała,

Trzebiński

2024

JCM

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Purpose: The purpose of the study was to verify the hypothesis concerning the relationship between alexithymia and selected indicators used to describe emotional events, specifically romantic relationships. Alexithymia, due to significant distortions in cognitive processing of emotional content, is demonstrated by poor recognition of emotions in oneself and others and, as a result, by deficits in empathy, avoidance of social relationships, and deficits in the ability to mentalize. Differences in narrations were tested by alexithymia levels (high vs. low) and the relation between specific narration features and individual alexithymia factors, i.e., difficulties in identifying emotions, difficulties in verbalising emotions, and externally oriented thinking. Method: A total of 356 people who had been in a romantic relationship for at least six months participated in the study. The TAS-20 was applied to measure alexithymia, and the FIS questionnaire was used to investigate anxiety in close relationships. Participants were asked to freely describe the romantic relationship they were in at that moment. The Linguistic Inquiry Word Count (LIWCLIWC2015 v1.6—unlimited duration academic licence) software was used for content analysis. The study was conducted online. Results: On the basis of the analyses conducted, high levels of alexithymia were found to be significantly associated with a lower total number of words used in narrative, a lower number relating to positive emotions, a lower number relating to causation and insight, and a higher number relating to negative emotions. Various results were obtained for individual dimensions of alexithymia in relation to the LIWC categories and the mediating role of fear of intimacy. For the difficulty identifying feelings (DIF), a significant mediating effect was observed only for words associated with negative emotions, whereas for the difficulty describing feelings (DDF), significant mediating effects were found for words relating to negative emotions and causality. In the case of externally oriented thinking (EOT), significant mediating effects were obtained for all analysed categories from LIWC.

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What do we know about online romance fraud studies? A systematic review of the empirical literature (2000 to 2021)

Cited by 30 publications

References 60 publications

Psychological Impact on the Public Susceptible to Online Scams

Psychological Impact on the Public Susceptible to Online Scams

Induced erotomania by online romance fraud - a novel form of de Clérambault’s syndrome

Alexithymia in the Narratization of Romantic Relationships: The Mediating Role of Fear of Intimacy

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