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Romance fraudsters use language to manipulate, persuade and exploit.
They distort their victims’ perception of reality in a similar way to grooming, domestic abuse and coercive control. The victim of a romance fraud can be making decisions that feel rational and reasonable, but this is what makes it difficult for them to recognise when it is happening, however obvious it may seem to those on the outside.
Fraudsters work hard to make sure that when they ask for money, and require urgency or secrecy from the victim, it doesn’t set off alarm bells. Unsafe requests such as these are disguised, and can be hidden in stories that seem expected and reasonable, such as in a fraudster’s cleverly designed ‘reluctant’ admission of health worries, their vulnerability, or their desire to protect the relationship.
We have produced a practical guide, with forensic linguist and criminologist
Dr Elisabeth Carter (University of Roehampton) to highlight the common tactics used in romance fraud.
You can also read the Fraud protection toolkit which we have produced as a guide on how to minimise the risk of fraud.