نبذة مختصرة : Romance scam is a type of fraud where, through social engineering methods, offenders strengthen emotional relationships with the victim and use them to obtain financial benefits or services. This fraud takes place on social networks and dating sites, so people can become victims of romance scams when making new acquaintances online. To reveal the experiences of victims of romance scams and the fraud patterns used by scammers, a qualitative study conducted with five women victims of romance scams is presented. The study discusses the reasons for becoming a victim of fraudsters, the sequential course of fraud, losses incurred and other consequences. Research on romance fraud is important for effective control of this phenomenon, as increased levels of computer literacy have increased the use of websites and increased fraud rates. The aim of this work is to reveal the importance of the prevention of romance scams and to reveal the real experiences of women, showing that such offenses also take place in Lithuania. The following objectives have been set to achieve the goal: to present the concept of romance scams and the assumptions of its occurrence; present the methods of operation of fraudsters; discuss the socio- demographic characteristics of victims; to reveal the victims' experiences, social and psychological consequences; reveal the fraud process. Also, according to the experiences of women who participated in the study to reveal the peculiarities of romance scams by presenting the strategies used by fraudsters, the experiences of victims, and the losses suffered - both financial and emotional.
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