“You’re not alone”: the use of peer support groups for fraud victims
Open accessAbstract
The impact of fraud on an individual victim can have devastating consequences. Not only do victims experience a financial loss, but in many cases the impacts extend to their physical health and emotional wellbeing as well potentially enduring relationship breakdown, unemployment, homelessness and in extreme cases, suicide or suicide ideation. Despite the prevalence of fraud victimisation globally, and its severe consequences, there are limited support services available to victims to assist with their recovery.This article explores a case study of an Australian jurisdiction and the establishment of a face-to-face peer support group targeted exclusively at fraud victims. Based on interviews with fraud victims prior to the commencement of the support group and then one year after the establishment of the support group, this article highlights both the benefits and challenges of this peer support model. Though exploratory in nature, the article concludes with the need to provide greater levels of support to fraud victims and considers the role of face-to-face peer support groups as a means to achieve this.
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Post-scam emotions can be associated with subsequent mental health problems and homelessness.
“and can be associated with subsequent mental health problems and homelessness (Cross, 2019)”
From Tainted Love: a Systematic Literature Review of Online Romance Scam Research (2023) · cites this paper as Cross, 2019
The Peer support section says fraud victimisation can be followed by deteriorating mental health and homelessness. The Phase one section also describes shame and embarrassment after fraud, but the paper does not link those emotions specifically to later mental health problems or homelessness. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredOthers acknowledged diverse challenges, such as lack of engagement in the group, logistical problems, high participant fluctuation rates of the group members, expectation mismatches and perceived tension between financial and non-financial victims.
“However, others acknowledged diverse challenges, such as lack of engagement in the group, logistical problems, high participant f luctuation rates of the group members, expectation mismatches and perceived tension between financial and non-financial victims.”
From Tainted Love: a Systematic Literature Review of Online Romance Scam Research (2023) · cites this paper as Cross (2019)
In “Phase two: Experiences of the peer support group” (page unavailable), the paper describes parking difficulties, inconsistent attendance, people moving in and out of the group, and mismatched expectations about support. It also reports tension between members who recovered their money and those who did not, but does not describe this as tension between financial and non-financial victims. (LLM, conf=0.87)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredCross examined the motivations, expectations and actual experiences of individuals who joined police-run peer support groups after being targeted by scammers.
“Research by Cross (2019) examined the motivations, expectations and actual experiences of individuals who joined police-run peer support groups after being targeted by scammers.”
From Tainted Love: a Systematic Literature Review of Online Romance Scam Research (2023) · cites this paper as Cross (2019)
The Method and Phase one sections describe interviews about fraud victims’ motivations and expectations, while Phase two examines their experiences after participation. The Method also includes people who intended to join but had not yet joined. The group was hosted by WA Police but led by a former fraud victim, so calling it “police-run” overstates the police’s role. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredVictims have reported feelings including shame, embarrassment, shock, anger, worry and physical and mental health problems.
“Victims have reported feelings including shame, embarrassment, shock, anger, worry and physical and mental health problems (Whitty and Buchanan, 2016;Cross, 2019).”
From Tainted Love: a Systematic Literature Review of Online Romance Scam Research (2023) · cites this paper as Cross, 2019
The Phase one interview findings report shame and embarrassment, and the Phase two findings describe anger. The Peer support section reports deterioration in fraud victims’ physical wellbeing and mental health. Our copy does not establish shock or worry as reported reactions to fraud; the anxiety it describes concerns attending the support group. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredFew victims have been able to disclose their experiences and receive support.
“Because romance scams are still a heavily stigmatized crime, few victims have been able to disclose their experiences and receive support (Whitty and Buchanan, 2016;Cross, 2019).”
From Tainted Love: a Systematic Literature Review of Online Romance Scam Research (2023) · cites this paper as Cross, 2019
The Fraud section describes victim-blaming, isolation and reluctance to report romance fraud for fear of embarrassment. Phase one includes an interviewee who felt unable to tell anyone or obtain other support. These passages support barriers to disclosure and support, but the paper does not establish that only a few romance-fraud victims have been able to disclose their experiences and receive support. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Most participants valued sharing their own story with others and subsequent gain of solidarity and acknowledgement, the ability to learn how they have been victimized or build a friendship.
“Most participants valued sharing their own story with others and subsequent gain of solidarity and acknowledgement, the ability to learn how they have been victimized or build a friendship.”
From Tainted Love: a Systematic Literature Review of Online Romance Scam Research (2023) · cites this paper as Cross (2019)
Significant reasons for joining a peer support group were interactions with like-minded people, a sense of community, the expected release of the burden suffered by the victim, the prospect of giving and receiving help and the sheer absence of other means of support, such as family and friends.
“Significant reasons for joining a peer support group were the interactions with like-minded people, a sense of community, the expected release of the burden suffered by the victim, the prospect of giving and receiving help and the sheer absence of other means of support, such as family and friends.”
From Tainted Love: a Systematic Literature Review of Online Romance Scam Research (2023) · cites this paper as Cross (2019)
Unlike the motivations, which were largely optimistic, the actual experiences of peer support group participants were mixed.
“Unlike the motivations, which were largely optimistic, the actual experiences were mixed.”
From Tainted Love: a Systematic Literature Review of Online Romance Scam Research (2023) · cites this paper as Cross (2019)
Romance scams are still a heavily stigmatized crime.
“Because romance scams are still a heavily stigmatized crime, few victims have been able to disclose their experiences and receive support (Whitty and Buchanan, 2016;Cross, 2019).”
From Tainted Love: a Systematic Literature Review of Online Romance Scam Research (2023) · cites this paper as Cross, 2019
Research concerned with externally stimulated intervention approaches, such as peer support groups and active policing, has displayed some success.
“Although the research concerned with externally stimulated intervention approaches, such as peer support groups and active policing, has displayed some success, more work is needed to support victims (Webster and Drew, 2017;Cross, 2019).”
From Tainted Love: a Systematic Literature Review of Online Romance Scam Research (2023) · cites this paper as Cross, 2019
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Tainted Love: a Systematic Literature Review of Online Romance Scam Research
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- Authors
- Cross, C.
- Affiliations
- Queensland University of Technology (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Cross, Cassandra
- ORCID
- Cross, Cassandra
- Venue
- Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2019-04-02
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 672-691
- ISSN
- 1091-1359 (ISSN-L)
- 1540-3556
- OpenAlex
- W2935173348
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 15.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- eprints.qut.edu.au
- Locations
- Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment (publishedVersion)
- QUT ePrints (Queensland University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- None received
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Law › Criminal Justice and Penology
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Cybercrime and Law Enforcement Studies
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mental Health and Patient Involvement
- Keywords
- fraud victims, peer support groups, victim support, emotional well-being, face-to-face support
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