RT Article
T1 Hyperpersonal feedback and online romance fraud: an empirical examination
JF Journal of crime and justice
VO 48
IS 3
SP 371
OP 389
A1 Wang, Fangzhou
A1 Dickinson, Timothy
A2 Dickinson, Timothy
LA English
YR 2025
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1929300344
AB 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.
K1 feedback in computer-mediated communication
K1 hyperpersonal model of communication
K1 perceptual rewards
K1 Online romance fraud
DO 10.1080/0735648X.2024.2376700