Thesis abstract:

«p»Complex social media scams have the capacity to swindle victims both financially and psychologically. Of particular concern is the inability of victims to recognise their fraudulent relationships. Scammers are skilled in grooming victims into isolating their social supports to create hyper-dependent relationships, with the key intention being financial fraud. Disruptors to this relationship are often sought after from external factors, including friends and families. This study will be the first to identify the early warning signs of online grooming from the perspective of friends and family by observing common patterns, behavioural trends, and cognitive changes in scam targets. Participants will be recruited through IDCARE, a cybersecurity charity providing psychological support to victims of fraud and via online channels, including forums, support pages and social media. Quantitative and qualitative data will be collected from loved ones of scam victims, including survey responses and interview data. Behavioural and cognitive changes will be classified to form a taxonomy of grooming behaviours identified in scam victims. This identification tool will be used to inform prevention and intervention strategies aimed at raising awareness of the early warning signs of online grooming.«/p»