“It Seems to be More than One Person”: Exploring the Use of Multiple Persons and Identities in the Perpetration of Romance Fraud

• In Event: Advances in Cybervictimization Research

Abstract

Romance fraud is a global phenomenon. These deceptions are carried out by a range of offenders, with many being attributed to international organised crime groups. The methods used by offenders have been examined, however, the use of multiple offenders and/or multiple identities within specific victim approaches has yet to be explored.
This article analyses the extent to which those targeted by romance fraud indicate the perceived presence of more than one offender or identity in their communications. It draws from a sample of 1,016 reports of romance fraud lodged with Scamwatch (online reporting portal in Australia for fraud) that indicated financial loss. It uses the de-identified free text narrative of each report to determine the prevalence of approaches with multiple offenders and/or identities, and how these were used to target potential victims. The analysis indicates the use of multiple offenders and/or identities in 182 cases (18%). It highlights how these are used in deliberate ways to increase the likelihood of an initial payment from the victim, or to maintain ongoing payments. The article concludes with how this knowledge can be leveraged in to target the prevention and disruption of romance fraud into the future.

Author

• Cassandra Cross, Queensland University of Technology