Victim support and reporting
Survey-based research on when people seek help, what prevents formal reporting, and how better support systems can lower victim burden.
Romance scam research | Cyber defense | Victim support
Researching the human side of cyber-enabled fraud.
LD Herrera, PhD studies romance scams, AI-enhanced fraud, help-seeking behavior, and support models that reduce harm for older adults and vulnerable populations.
PhD Cyber Defense
MBA
CISSP
CISM
CIPP/US
About LD Herrera
A scholar-practitioner focused on scams, trust, disclosure, and recovery.
LD Herrera brings more than 35 years of IT leadership and cybersecurity experience to research on online fraud, cyberpsychology, and victim-centered response.
His current work examines how romance scams stay hidden, why victims delay disclosure, how trust shapes help-seeking, and what support systems should do differently when cybercrime is also a deeply personal violation.
- Founder and lead researcher, Social Technology and Safety Foundation.
- Lead researcher, Romance Scam Research Center.
- President and CEO, Expert Approach, Inc.
Dakota State University
Cyber defense education
LD Herrera recently completed both the PhD in Cyber Defense and MBA programs at Dakota State University.
What I do
Research areas and public work
AI-enhanced scam defense
Analysis of how generative AI strengthens persuasion, impersonation, and credibility, especially in scams targeting older adults.
Human-centered cyber defense
Applied work connecting technical response, education, evidence capture, reporting workflows, and practical intervention.
Featured publications
Published research on romance scams and AI-enhanced fraud
Four IEEE-published papers are available through Dakota State University's repository.
Romance Scam Reporting and Support
What happens after suspicion becomes crisis, and how a "report once, route many" model could help victims move faster with less burden.
Romance Scam Victimization
A victim-centered look at money, shame, silence, help-seeking, and the emotional cost hidden behind official reporting numbers.
Contact
For research, speaking, consulting, or media inquiries, contact LD Herrera at ld.herrera@romancescamresearch.org.