Article Review 1: Modus Operandi and Blockchain Analysis of Romance Scams: Cryptocurrency-Driven Victimization
Diego Saldana
School of Cybersecurity, Old Dominion University
CYSE 201S: Cybersecurity and the Social Sciences
Professor Diwakar Yalpi
Date: February 24, 2026
Introduction
The article I am reviewing titled “Modus Operandi and Blockchain Analysis of Romance Scams: Cryptocurrency-Driven Victimization” is an in-depth study of the rapid and incredibly significant rise of so-called “Romance scams” which target those looking for a romantic relationship through many of today’s dating apps such as Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, etc. These scams exploit targets through clever social engineering that grooms a target into trusting the attacker enough to willingly send money in the form of cryptocurrency or otherwise, after which the attacker will suddenly disappear and cease all contact with the victim. The attacker will often then use a variety of techniques to launder the money using various cryptocurrency-based methods in order to avoid detection.
Relation/Connection to Social Science Principles
This article uses elements from each principle of science but leans more heavily on empirical data and objectivity. Using data obtained from various sources in order to objectively view this new facet of cybercrime from a macro perspective. Utilizing data such as the percentage of American adults that use each dating app, their age ranges, gender makeup of each app, and even apps popular in other areas of the world, such as southeast Asia or Europe. The study then moves on to tools and methods used by the scammers, such as fostering the initial connection on the dating app and then moving towards instant messaging apps such as WhatsApp which deepen connections more rapidly and make the attacker more difficult to track due to these apps data tracking policies compared to the original dating apps. The study also uses elements of parsimony and determinism by explaining that a large element in the rise in these scams occurring was likely a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic pushing a massive number of users onto these services and into the domain of cryptocurrencies. The anonymity of these crypto transactions appeals to scammers as although they are publicly viewable, the actual data of the transaction is listed as the private wallet that the currency is pulled from rather than a specific individual.
Research Question
This study is not an experiment and as a result it does not have a direct independent or dependent variable to be studied, nor does it have a hypothesis to be answered. It is an observational study that attempts to aggregate data from many trustworthy peer reviewed sources in an attempt to find associations in that data in order to come to a conclusion that may be helpful in further future study or prevention of these finance scams. As stated by the abstract in the beginning of the text, “These findings underscore the evolving sophistication of crypto-involved scams and highlight the need for advanced blockchain investigation tools, risk-based case prioritization, and public education to enhance prevention and enforcement.
Types of Research Methods Used
The data collected is largely empirical and involves qualitative and quantitative data including application data that includes which apps are most used by attackers, the chosen method utilized by attackers to initialize a relationship, and the laundering techniques used by attackers to launder money efficiently using cryptocurrency techniques.
Types of Data Analysis Used
As a study rather than an experiment, this article uses two main types of data analysis in order to accumulate and decipher the information that was gathered, descriptive analysis and prescriptive analysis. The authors thoroughly describe what attackers have done and how throughout the text and then delivers several policy recommendations at the end which include:
– Strengthening Law Enforcement Training on Cryptocurrency and Blockchain
– Establishing Awareness and Prevention Programs for the Public
– Enhancing Ongoing Education and Capacity building for Prosecutors and Judges
– Building a Robust Cryptocurrency Regulation
– Adopting of a Unified Global Jurisdiction
Connection to Other Course Concepts
This article relates to many concepts covered in our course so far such as the individual motives driving these attackers in this kind of crime, with money being the dominant reason in this particular example. As well as the concept of human factors being at play with this crime being entirely done through clever social engineering targeting people who are particularly vulnerable to such an attack while they are looking for romantic relationships.
Connections to the Concerns or Contributions of Marginalized Groups
I believe this crime is likely to disproportionately effect the LGBTQ population as they are significantly more likely to use dating apps more often than heterosexual adults leading to more encounters with potential threats. While the study never makes explicit mention of this group, it is well worth considering adding a new policy recommendation that covers this topic in more detail for those at a higher risk level.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this study contributes to society by increasing awareness of an emerging criminal scam and highlighting its growing impact in an increasingly digital world. It clarifies how evolving technologies, particularly cryptocurrency, create new opportunities for cybercriminal activity. By examining the social and technological dimensions of these scams, the study demonstrates the interconnectedness of cybersecurity and the social sciences. Its implications extend to policymakers, researchers, and the public, offering informed strategies for prevention while advancing our understanding of how human behavior, technological innovation, and criminal adaptation intersect in the digital age.
Reference:
Lim, A. & Choi, K. (2025). Modus Operandi and Blockchain Analysis of Romance Scams: Cryptocurrency-Driven Victimization. International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime, 8(2), – . DOI: https://doi.org/10.52306/2578-3289.1220
Available at: https://vc.bridgew.edu/ijcic/vol8/iss2/2
Article Review #02: “Vishing and Smishing Perpetrators and Their Victims in Nigerian Slums”
Student Name: Diego Saldana
School of Cybersecurity, Old Dominion University
CYSE 201S: Cybersecurity and the Social Sciences
Instructor Name: Diwakar Yalpi
Date: 04/14/2026
This article performs a cross-sectional study in order to gain insight from both the victims and perpetrators of two highly common social engineering schemes in order to study the socio-behavioral causes and effects of these actions across both parties in a disenfranchised area (i.e. three slums across Lagos, Nigeria).
This articles studies lean wholly into each of the various social science principles with a heavy emphasis on both the Cognitive and Psychodynamic theories. Victims behavior is taken advantage of through a general lack of digital knowledge by perpetrators who are doing what they can to survive. These perpetrators gain notoriety for their actions if they are successful and begin to train the next generation from an early age. These behaviors are learned through mentorship and continually passed down as a means of lifting themselves out of the poverty that pervades the slums. Meanwhile, victims suffer in silence as a result of both embarrassment and lack of authoritative figures with the ability to remedy the situation. These offenders are trading ethics and legality for a means of survival because they have identified a lack of access to education and cyber awareness that would help defend victims. A lack of effective government policies and systems to assist victims has allowed the problem to fester and increase in risk further as more people turn to crime in order to survive and this is only further exacerbated by the rapid growth of phones, mobile banking, and AI technologies that assist criminals in these scams.
The focus of the research in this article is on how vishing and smishing scams operate within these Nigerian slum communities, along with the experiences, perceptions, and reactions of victims to these scams and the motivations, techniques, and procedures of the perpetrators. The article has a particular interest in how the psychological, environmental, and social factors of life in the slums increases the risk of, and vulnerability to, these crimes.
The hypothesis of all this being: Individuals in this environment are more vulnerable to vishing and smishing as a result of low digital literacy, poverty, and weak institutional protections from the Nigerian government. The cybercriminals exploit the social aspects of these close-knit Nigerian slum societies in order to emotionally manipulate victims to carry out these crimes in order to gain both status with other scammers and money in order to elevate themselves from poverty. The independent variables of this study being the level of general digital literacy, socioeconomic status of both victim and perpetrator, exposure to mobile technologies, presence of cybersecurity awareness, the strength of institutional support, and social influences. The dependent variables being studied were victims perceived vulnerability to scams, the success rate of attacks, the response of the victims after a successful attack, the impact on the victims, and perpetrator behavior.
This study employed a qualitative cross-sectional design which means that the data was collected at a singular point in time, rather than over a long period in an effort to gain a perspective on real life experiences in the Nigerian slums that it was collected. Through a series of interviews with both victims and perpetrators a wide perspective is formed that gives better understanding into the social and behavioral dynamics of life for the people of the slums and how it attributes to both victimhood and criminal behavior. These semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 victims and 10 perpetrators collected through snowball sampling in either English or Pidgin and anonymized to protect both parties.
The researchers in the article used inductive analysis and deductive analysis in order to allow data to naturally identify patterns in itself while also being guided by existing theory such as Routine Activity theory which posits that in order for crime to be committed three things must hold true: There must be a motivated attacked, a suitable target, and the absence of a capable guardian. Data was run through a manually coded program and verified by three separate researchers to ensure reliability. The article also uses verbatim quotes from interviewees to support the identified themes.
3 Connections to other Course Concepts Identify and elaborate on connections between the study and concepts learned in our course using the PowerPoint presentation from the modules. How does the study reinforce or challenge those concepts?
This study heavily reinforces the concepts we have learned throughout the course. With it being heavily influenced by the various social theories and principles. It relates to Cognitive Behavioral theory through proving that the behavior that creates the criminals in the slums is taught by others who have used it to survive and become notorious. It also has themes of Psychodynamic Theory in that the criminals fully admit to training others from a young age to commit the same behaviors. The article also contains each one of the seven principles of social sciences as described above.
This study heavily considers the effects of the actions studies on marginalized groups as the study is built around the very groups themselves. It is entirely focused on the victimization of these marginalized peoples living in the slums of Nigeria by their very neighbors in the same slums. These issues can only be alleviated by a general elevation in the quality of life and level of security these people have through their government and each other. As it stands these people are disproportionately likely to be the victims of scams while they are already economically disenfranchised due to their low digital literacy and limited access to any sort of cybersecurity education. The structural inequality of these Nigerian slum societies leads to a general lack of any sorts of protection that creates a negative feedback loop with the victims of these crimes.
Overall societal contributions of the study/Conclusion In conclusion, summarize the societal contributions of the study. What are its implications, and how does it advance our understanding of cybersecurity and social sciences?
This study holds incredibly important societal contributions by underlining that these cybercrimes of vishing and smishing are not just technical but deeply social problems shaped by the environmental and social factors these people live with. It highlights that poverty, low digital literacy, and poor institutional support manifests a breeding ground for these sorts of criminal activity. With the article giving a deep understanding into the root causes of these issues it inherently provides solutions that can be acted upon and used in similar situations globally.
Reference:
Adeyemo, L. J. , Olabulo, T. Y. & Peter, I. G. (2026). Vishing and smishing perpetrators and their victims in Nigerian slums . International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime, 9(1), – . DOI: https://doi.org/10.52306/2578-3289.1208 Available at: https://vc.bridgew.edu/ijcic/vol9/iss1/3