Romance Scamming: Uncovering the Transnational Crime and Legal Challenges

Abstract

Romance scams have eventually become a major social and financial problem in Bangladesh as the frequency of victims of false online relationships rises daily. This present study aims to explain the nature and reasons behind romance scams, the consequences of this trend on society, and transnational crime and legal challenges. Three important groups, other people, fraudsters, and the police, were sought for insights using semi-structured interviews under a qualitative study methodology. Using thematic analysis of the gathered data for the study, the authors provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of why individuals participate in romantic scams, what goes through the minds of victims, and why it is difficult to capture the criminals, let alone convict them. Most importantly, the study highlights the absence of enough knowledge, legislative uncertainty, and ineffective tools to handle romance scams in Bangladesh. The research results offer some helpful knowledge about issues emerging from this crime and possible solutions for them.