The Geography of Online Dating Fraud

Matthew Edwards; Guillermo Suarez-Tangil; Claudia Peersman; Gianluca Stringhini; Awais Rashid; Monica Whitty

The Geography of Online Dating Fraud

Matthew Edwards
, Guillermo Suarez-Tangil
, Claudia Peersman
, Gianluca Stringhini
, Awais Rashid
, Monica Whitty

Research output: Contribution to conference › Conference Paper › peer-review

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Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of online dating fraud's geography. Working with real romance scammer dating profiles collected from both proxied and direct connections, we analyse geographic patterns in the targeting and distinct characteristics of dating fraud from different countries, revealing several strong markers indicative of particular national origins having distinctive approaches to romance scamming. We augment IP geolocation information with other evidence about the dating profiles. By analysing the resource overlap between scam profiles, we discover that up to 11% of profiles created from proxied connections could be assigned a different national origin on the basis of text or images shared with profiles from direct connections. Our methods allow for improved understanding of the origins of dating fraud, beyond only direct geolocation of IP addresses, with patterns and resource sharing revealing approximate location information which could be used to target prevention campaigns.

Original language	English
Number of pages	7
Publication status	Published - 24 May 2018
Event	Workshop on Technology and Consumer Protection: Co-located with the 39th IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy - San Franciso, United States Duration: 24 May 2018 → 24 May 2018 https://www.ieee-security.org/TC/SPW2018/ConPro/index.html

Workshop

Workshop	Workshop on Technology and Consumer Protection
Abbreviated title	ConPro
Country/Territory	United States
City	San Franciso
Period	24/05/18 → 24/05/18
Internet address	https://www.ieee-security.org/TC/SPW2018/ConPro/index.html

Research Groups and Themes

Cyber Security

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Cite this

@conference{137ff340591c48fba1186056f37a14d6,

title = "The Geography of Online Dating Fraud",

abstract = "This paper presents an analysis of online dating fraud's geography. Working with real romance scammer dating profiles collected from both proxied and direct connections, we analyse geographic patterns in the targeting and distinct characteristics of dating fraud from different countries, revealing several strong markers indicative of particular national origins having distinctive approaches to romance scamming. We augment IP geolocation information with other evidence about the dating profiles. By analysing the resource overlap between scam profiles, we discover that up to 11\% of profiles created from proxied connections could be assigned a different national origin on the basis of text or images shared with profiles from direct connections. Our methods allow for improved understanding of the origins of dating fraud, beyond only direct geolocation of IP addresses, with patterns and resource sharing revealing approximate location information which could be used to target prevention campaigns. ",

author = "Matthew Edwards and Guillermo Suarez-Tangil and Claudia Peersman and Gianluca Stringhini and Awais Rashid and Monica Whitty",

year = "2018",

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note = "Workshop on Technology and Consumer Protection : Co-located with the 39th IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy, ConPro ; Conference date: 24-05-2018 Through 24-05-2018",

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TY - CONF

T1 - The Geography of Online Dating Fraud

AU - Edwards, Matthew

AU - Suarez-Tangil, Guillermo

AU - Peersman, Claudia

AU - Stringhini, Gianluca

AU - Rashid, Awais

AU - Whitty, Monica

PY - 2018/5/24

Y1 - 2018/5/24

N2 - This paper presents an analysis of online dating fraud's geography. Working with real romance scammer dating profiles collected from both proxied and direct connections, we analyse geographic patterns in the targeting and distinct characteristics of dating fraud from different countries, revealing several strong markers indicative of particular national origins having distinctive approaches to romance scamming. We augment IP geolocation information with other evidence about the dating profiles. By analysing the resource overlap between scam profiles, we discover that up to 11% of profiles created from proxied connections could be assigned a different national origin on the basis of text or images shared with profiles from direct connections. Our methods allow for improved understanding of the origins of dating fraud, beyond only direct geolocation of IP addresses, with patterns and resource sharing revealing approximate location information which could be used to target prevention campaigns.

AB - This paper presents an analysis of online dating fraud's geography. Working with real romance scammer dating profiles collected from both proxied and direct connections, we analyse geographic patterns in the targeting and distinct characteristics of dating fraud from different countries, revealing several strong markers indicative of particular national origins having distinctive approaches to romance scamming. We augment IP geolocation information with other evidence about the dating profiles. By analysing the resource overlap between scam profiles, we discover that up to 11% of profiles created from proxied connections could be assigned a different national origin on the basis of text or images shared with profiles from direct connections. Our methods allow for improved understanding of the origins of dating fraud, beyond only direct geolocation of IP addresses, with patterns and resource sharing revealing approximate location information which could be used to target prevention campaigns.

UR - https://www.ieee-security.org/TC/SPW2018/ConPro/

M3 - Conference Paper

T2 - Workshop on Technology and Consumer Protection

Y2 - 24 May 2018 through 24 May 2018

ER -

The Geography of Online Dating Fraud

Abstract

Workshop

Research Groups and Themes

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DAPM: Detecting and Preventing Mass-Marketing Fraud (MMF)

Cite this

The Geography of Online Dating Fraud

Abstract

Workshop

Research Groups and Themes

Access to Document

Handle.net

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

DAPM: Detecting and Preventing Mass-Marketing Fraud (MMF)

Cite this