March 25, 2025
By: Anna Hairston, MSW, LSW
Romance scams represent a significant and ever-growing concern, with victims losing both a relationship and their money. According to the Federal Trade Commission, romance scammers swindled around $240 million from older adults in 2022. How is this possible? Manipulation tactics have a key role to play in communication from the scammer. Early stages of the relationship are heavily influenced by brain chemistry, which accelerates the victim’s emotional attachment. Despite red flags, the person often fails to recognize the signs due to the use of tactics such as love-bombing. By consistently bombarding the person with affection and attention, scammers activate the brain’s “reward system”, which aids in creating a strong bond and a positive feeling of attachment. This response lowers the person’s defenses, making it more difficult to identify warning signs and other red flags. Scammers also exploit the person emotionally, leading them to empathize with their fictional, difficult circumstances, usually a health concern or financial crisis. Over this short period of time, the victim is isolated from family and friends, with much of their time spent in communication with the scammer, who is leading up to their prize. Within weeks, the victim is envisioning the rest of their lives together and sending substantial amounts of money, all while never having met the person face-to-face.
At the Area Agency on Aging 3 in northwest Ohio, we have observed a rising number of romance scam victims throughout our programs. We currently offer victim outreach services and counseling services; however, we felt called to create something to address the underlying factors that make older adults more vulnerable to romance scams – social isolation and loneliness. In the Spring of 2024, we launched to programs – Beyond the Canvas art socialization group and Rhythmic Reflections music socialization – with the goal of directly addressing social isolation and loneliness. These bi-weekly sessions, typically attended by 6-12 participants, provide a safe space for individuals to engage in creative expression and connect with others.
During the initial session, we surveyed participants regarding their experiences with romance scams and their perceived social connectedness. Our findings were telling: 80% of participants had been contacted online by strangers seeking ongoing communication, with 40% engaging in these conversations. Additionally, 62% reported being asked to send money or gift cards. While all participants indicated they had meaningful conversations with close family or friends, 12% reported feeling disconnected from others.
Initially designed as a 6-8 session group, the demand for these groups exceeded expectations. By the end of our sixth session, participants were asking when the next session would be – so we pivoted! We felt it important to consider this feedback from participants in addition to our initial thoughts during planning stages. These groups, while not art or music therapy, provide an informal, supportive environment where participants can create art or music, engage in meaningful discussions, and make new friends. Throughout these sessions, participants have navigated significant life challenges, such as cancer diagnoses, Alzheimer’s progression, and the loss of another participant and other loved ones. The participants have come alongside one another, encouraging them, bringing laughter as healing, and doing it all as they create beautiful melodies or hand paint a bird house.
The effects these groups have had on these individuals are profound, and they would tell you as much. For some, this is their only outing. For others, this is the only time they feel listened to and understood. For a few, it is a break from a stressful caregiving role that has diminished their identity. Through these groups, we will continue providing older adults with the support and community they need to thrive emotionally and socially, thereby reducing their vulnerability to romance scams.
References
Chuang J. Y. (2021). Romance Scams: Romantic Imagery and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation. Frontiers in psychiatry, 12, 738874. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.738874
Fisher, H. E., Xu, X., Aron, A., & Brown, L. L. (2016). Intense, Passionate, Romantic Love: A Natural Addiction? How the Fields That Investigate Romance and Substance Abuse Can Inform Each Other. Frontiers in psychology, 7, 687. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00687
FTC Issues Annual Report to Congress on Agency’s Actions to Protect Older Adults. (2024, October 18). Federal Trade Commission. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/10/ftc-issues-annual-report-congress-agencys-actions-protect-older-adults