A qualitative investigation of the emotional, physiological, financial, and legal consequences of online romance scams in the United States

The qualitative research study examined the lived experiences of Online Romance Scam (ORS) victims in the United States (U.S.). Supported by interpretive phenomenological analysis, nineteen semi-structured online interviews were completed with victims of ORS. A semi-structured interview guide was used based on prior scholarship that attempted to understand participants’ experiences of ORS in the U.S. and to investigate the perceived implications from ORS victimization. Analysis reflected four themes: (1) mental health consequences with subthemes: emotional dysregulation, behavioral health support, and suicidal ideation following ORS; (2) physiological health consequences including the subthemes: sleep changes, physiological changes, and health-related financial debt; (3) financial consequences including the subthemes: financial loss, constrained financial autonomy, and paying back debt; and (4) legal consequences encompassing subthemes: negative law enforcement encounters, civil litigation, and vulnerability for revictimization. These novel research findings inform research, practice, education, and policy implications. • Multiple short- and long-term consequences affecting health, legal, and financial well-being. • Victims sought polytherapies to help cope with the consequences of victimization. • Victims experienced barriers to legal and procedural justice. • Disenfranchised victimization is when invalidated experiences lead to marginalization.