Romance Scam Recovery Project
Romance Scam Recovery Project (2023– 2025)
We developed and provided low-threshold interventions to support the recovery of romance scam victims in Finland.
The project enhanced well-being and recovery through social support, counseling and peer support groups. It also raised awareness and breaks taboos about the phenomenon of romance scams. Our services were available nationwide in Finland – online and offline.
You can find our social media posts on Facebook and Instagram @nettideittiturva.
Romance Scam Recovery Project Focused On:
Online and offline peer group interventions for victims
Romance Scam Recovery Project has developed free, low-threshold peer support group intervention.
Fixed program for romance scam victims included six weekly meetings with selected themes. Peer support, psychoeducation, sharing experiences, assigments, instructor-guided thematic discussions and skill training of strengthening personal and emotional boundaries are employed as the main methods to enhance their wellbeing and future safety in online communications. Themes included e.g. self-knowledge and emotional skills and safety plan to prevent future online harms. Groups were guided by professional instructors.
Professional individual counseling and social support for victims and to the people close to them
Counseling included three to six weekly or bi-weekly one-hour meetings (face-to-face or online) with a professional. First the focus was on emotional stabilization and identifying needed support (e.g. for financial recovery or referral of medical regimen). Then counseling focused to strengthen victims’ self-knowledge and emotional skills by psycho-education. Themes also included exploring life-cycle and past relationships, development of emotional skills and strengthening personal and emotional boundaries. Lastly personal safety plan prevented re-victimization and future online harms.
Preventing romance scams through wide-reaching education and awareness raising
Preventive scam avoidance education and information to the public were spread by social media, podcast-series, public lectures and written articles (about romance scams and other related themes e.g. money laundering, social manipulation techniques). Experts by experience were trained to give interviews to media and their stories are published in project’s web page.
Training of professionals to identify and address the victims and to support their recovery
Open lectures and tailored training for professionals in various fields (e.g. health and social service workers or financing officers) included guidelines to identify and bring up the issue with possible victims. Supporting materials and articles, such as referral of victims to support services with links to other support service providers’ websites are also available for spouses and concerned others of those affected by romance scam. Tailored online courses for professionals are being published with Laurea University of Applied Sciences and Finnish Police University College.
Romance Scam Recovery -project is administered by two Finnish non-profit organizations Sosped Foundation and Maria Akatemia. The project (2023-2025) was funded by the Funding Centre of Social Wellfare and Health Organizations (STEA), which operates under the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in Finland.
Are you interested in the project or would you like to collaborate? Get in touch!
Helmi Korhonen
Head Planner, Romance Scam Recovery Project
helmi.korhonen@sosped.fi
+358 44 371 5455
Resources
Read our article: The Harsh Realities of Romance Scams
In this PopNAD request article, Helmi Korhonen with co-writer describe romance scams and their far-reaching impacts on victims, their close ones, and society at large. Beyond financial losses, these scams involve a complex web of psychological and emotional manipulation, causing profound feelings of guilt and shame in the victims. The cultural openness and high levels of trust prevalent in Nordic societies make them particularly vulnerable to romance scams. Read the full article on PopNAD-pages.
Read more about romance scams: What is a Romance Scam?
This article takes a closer look at romance scams. We introduce key terms related to the fraud, explore its main characteristics, and examine the methods used by cybercriminals to carry it out.
Learn how to protect yourself from romance scams: How to Identify a Romance Scam
While online frauds like romance scams have grown dramatically in recent years, it is still possible to protect yourself.
How to successfully cut off contact with a scammer: Disconnecting With a Romance Scammer
Cutting ties with a romance scammer is not easy as one might believe. In this article we offer useful tips for disconnecting.
Read our article on gift cards: The Use of Gift Cards in Romance Scams
Gift cards are increasingly being used as part of romance scams. It is important for both retail professionals and consumers to recognize this phenomenon and understand its implications.
Learn more on manipulation in romance scams: Manipulation Techniques Used by Romance Scammers
Romance scammers manipulate their victims by exploiting core psychological vulnerabilities.
Stories of Experience
Download Our Quick Guides
Chart: From a Romance Scam Towards Recovery
Outcomes of the project
Measures of the victims’ psychological well-being (e.g. social relations, feelings of loneliness, emotional status) were obtained prior and following group or individual intervention. In addition, victims’ subjective experience about the support offered were assisted with 11 specific statements following intervention. Based on this:
- 94 % of the victims feel being supported
- 95 % of the victims feel that contacting the project has helped them
- 86 % of the victims have learned to value themselves better
- 91 % of the victims say that their self-awareness has continued after the intervention.
Want to learn more?
Read PopNAD’s article