Romance Scams and People with Brain Injuries
Romance scams – where scammers create fake identities and use dating or friendship to get your trust and money – cost Australians A$201 million last year.
But the emotional impact of romance scams can often feel worse than losing money. Those who have been scammed may experience shame and embarrassment and have difficulty accepting the relationship wasn’t real.
Some groups are more vulnerable
Anyone can be scammed. But some groups are more at risk, including people with a disability such as an acquired brain injury.
We surveyed 101 clinicians in Australia and New Zealand who work with people who have acquired brain injuries. More than half (53%) had a client who had been affected by a cyberscam. The most common type was a romance scam.
How do romance scams work?
Romance scams involve a scammer (or sometimes multiple people) luring someone into a fake relationship in order to exploit them, often to get money. Scammers may use online dating platforms to connect, or social media, gaming and even online shopping sites.
Romance scammers build trust and strong emotions using techniques such as love bombing (early and frequent declarations of affection), grooming and manipulation over an extended period of time. They share common interests and even similar types of trauma to make people trust them.
Why are people with brain injuries more at risk?
One in 45 Australians lives with a brain injury acquired during an event such as car accident or stroke. This can damage a specific part of the brain, widespread brain cells (neurons), or both.
The impact of a brain injury varies but can affect cognition, emotions, behaviour and neurological functioning. As a result, people can experience changes in their ability to care for themselves, work, socialise and make complex decisions.
Shame and embarrassment
People with acquired brain injuries may also struggle to move from knowing or intending to do something, to actually enacting that behaviour. This is called the frontal lobe paradox.
When the scam is uncovered, family, friends and frontline services such as police and banks may respond with blame, judgement and ridicule. This contributes to further distress:
They just say how stupid I was for being conned.
Authentic partnerships with people with lived experience
Our research team has developed a suite of tailored resources called CyberAbility, which were co-designed with people who have brain injuries and experience of being scammed. We call them “Scambassadors”.
The Scambassadors alleviate some of the stigma and shame associated with being scammed, through conducting community education sessions, speaking with media, and co-facilitating therapy groups. They also spread awareness to other people with brain injuries about what to look out for – but the advice is helpful for everyone.
Conclusion
Romance scams are a significant problem, and people with brain injuries are disproportionately affected. It is essential to reduce stigma and increase awareness about scams, especially among vulnerable populations. Our research highlights the importance of authentic partnerships with people who have lived experience of being scammed, and the value of co-designed resources in promoting education and prevention.
FAQs
Q: What are the most common types of romance scams?
A: The most common types of romance scams are those that use online dating platforms, social media, gaming, and online shopping sites.
Q: How do scammers build trust and strong emotions?
A: Scammers build trust and strong emotions using techniques such as love bombing, grooming, and manipulation over an extended period of time.
Q: Why are people with brain injuries more at risk of being scammed?
A: People with brain injuries may be more vulnerable to scams due to changes in their ability to care for themselves, work, socialise, and make complex decisions.
Q: How can I help someone who has been scammed?
A: Approach difficult conversations about possible scams with curiosity, care, and patience. Share your own experiences of being scammed or ripped off to normalise this and reduce judgement.