Study: Here’s How Romance Scammers Use Psychology

The shocking story of Anne, a French woman who sent money to a fraudster posing as Brad Pitt, had many questioning how someone could be tricked into such a scam. But are we more likely to fall for romance scams than we would like to believe? Researcher Annie Lecompte of the Université du Québec à Montréal explains that a large number of victims are highly educated, but scammers have a number of tricks. Fraudsters usually display high social status, and also claim to live abroad or have a job that requires them to be “on the go.” This helps scammers stop victims from seeking face-to-face meetings. Victims are also more likely to be in search of meaning and have a kind yet impulsive personality. (Study Finds)