Scammed out of love: Susceptibility to online romance scams among women

The present study sought to investigate whether there are individual differences in susceptibility to online romance scams among women. Participants (N = 199; age range 18-77; M = 39.00) were recruited online from Prolific and completed the study online. Participants were assigned to a simulated dating profile based on their age and gender preference for a romantic partner and responded to quantitative and quantative questions about their perceptions of the profile, demographic characteristics, and prior romance scam victimization. Notably, it was found that approximately 40% of the sample indicated some intention to respond to the profile. A simulatenous linear regression revealted that increases in loneliness and decreases in depression – but not marital status – significantly predicted an increased likliehood of responding to the message. An exploratory analysis indicated that, when controlling for participant characteristics, increases in age were associated with decreases in the likelihood to respond, decreases in the perceived benefits of responding, and increases in the perceived risks of responding. Thus, in this sample, increases in age were associated with decreases in susceptibility to online romance scams. The findings from this study may be used to guide prevention efforts among individuals identified as more susceptible in this sample and provide domains for intervention for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers among women.