LD Herrera and John Hastings
Dakota State University
DOI: 10.1109/ISDFS60797.2024.10527224
Are romance scams declining, or are the official numbers missing the signal? This study looks beyond crime reports by comparing web searches, news coverage, research activity, and government data from 2004 to 2023.
The result is a broader picture of a threat that appears to keep escalating even when formal reports suggest a downturn. The paper makes the case for better awareness, stronger reporting, and research that shifts from documenting the problem to countering it.
Trend analysisReporting gapsRomance scamsCybercrime