How Relationship Scam Victims Pose a National Security Threat: Manipulation, Blackmail, and Cybersecurity Risks

Relationship scams, encompassing tactics like romance frauds and cryptocurrency investment schemes, can profoundly affect victims, leading them to divulge sensitive information.

This vulnerability poses significant national security risks, particularly when targeting government employees in sectors such as the military, law enforcement, security, and finance.​

Manipulation Techniques Employed by Scammers

Scammers adeptly exploit psychological tactics to extract desired information from victims. By fostering trust and emotional connections, they create environments where victims feel safe sharing confidential details. This manipulation often involves:​

Emotional Bonding: Manipulating Trust to Extract Sensitive Information

Scammers understand that deep emotional connections lower a person’s natural defenses, making them more willing to share personal and professional details they would otherwise keep private. The emotional manipulation employed in relationship scams is deliberate, systematic, and highly effective. Scammers invest time in crafting a narrative that makes the victim feel valued, loved, and uniquely understood. This process can take weeks or even months, with the scammer gradually becoming an indispensable part of the victim’s life.

One of the most common tactics scammers use is the illusion of long-term commitment. They make promises about a future together, discussing marriage, family, and a life built on shared dreams. By fostering this sense of intimacy, the victim begins to trust the scammer completely, often ignoring inconsistencies or warning signs. This emotional dependency creates a strong psychological bond, making the victim more susceptible to requests for personal and professional favors.

In cases where the victim works in a sensitive profession, such as cybersecurity, military intelligence, or corporate finance, the scammer subtly steers conversations toward work-related topics. At first, this may seem like innocent curiosity—asking about work routines, general responsibilities, or frustrations with colleagues. Over time, the questions become more targeted, with scammers coaxing out specific details under the guise of casual conversation. The victim, eager to maintain their emotional connection, often does not recognize the incremental loss of sensitive information.

There have been numerous cases where intelligence agencies have linked online relationship scams to state-sponsored espionage efforts. For example, in 2018, a series of romance scams targeting Australian defense officials was traced back to foreign intelligence operatives. Victims, believing they were in long-distance relationships, unknowingly disclosed sensitive military details that compromised national security. By the time authorities intervened, the damage had already been done.

Scammers exploit the fact that humans are wired to trust those they feel emotionally connected to. Once trust is established, the victim is far more likely to comply with requests that, under normal circumstances, would seem suspicious or inappropriate.

Feigning Shared Interests: Creating a False Sense of Camaraderie

One of the most effective ways scammers manipulate victims is by pretending to have similar backgrounds, careers, or passions. This tactic, known as mirroring, creates an artificial sense of shared identity, making the victim believe they have found someone who truly understands them. The more a victim identifies with the scammer, the more likely they are to let their guard down and share personal or professional information.

Scammers conduct extensive research before engaging with a potential victim. They may analyze social media profiles, professional networking sites, or past interactions to gather data on the victim’s interests, work history, and personal beliefs. Armed with this information, they fabricate a persona that aligns closely with the victim’s world.

For example, if the victim is an engineer working on cybersecurity, the scammer might claim to be a tech entrepreneur or an ethical hacker. They discuss industry trends, share articles, and engage in technical conversations to gain credibility. Over time, the victim begins to see the scammer as a knowledgeable and trustworthy figure within their field. Once this trust is established, the scammer can start extracting valuable information under the pretense of professional curiosity or collaboration.

One high-profile case involved a British intelligence analyst who was deceived by an online scammer posing as a fellow security expert. Over several months, the scammer—allegedly linked to a foreign state actor—engaged in discussions about encryption methods, emerging cyber threats, and internal government cybersecurity strategies. The victim, believing they were exchanging harmless professional insights, inadvertently exposed vulnerabilities in national defense systems.

This technique is not limited to intelligence circles. In the corporate world, scammers pose as investors, potential business partners, or consultants to infiltrate companies and gain insider knowledge. By presenting themselves as industry experts, they gain access to trade secrets, proprietary algorithms, and corporate strategies, which can then be exploited for financial gain or competitive advantage.

Mirroring is particularly effective because it plays into the victim’s desire for validation and connection. When someone appears to share your professional struggles, ambitions, and interests, it creates a sense of camaraderie that overrides natural skepticism. The victim becomes emotionally invested in the relationship, making them more likely to disclose confidential details without recognizing the risks.

Exploiting Empathy: Using Fabricated Hardships to Manipulate Victims

Empathy is one of the most powerful human emotions, and scammers exploit it ruthlessly. By presenting themselves as victims of hardship, they trigger a deep emotional response in their targets, prompting them to take actions they might otherwise resist. Whether it is a fabricated medical emergency, a legal problem, or a tragic family loss, these false narratives serve a dual purpose—eliciting financial support and extracting sensitive information.

Scammers often introduce hardship stories early in the relationship to test the victim’s willingness to help. At first, the requests are minor, such as emotional support or assistance with an insignificant task. As the relationship progresses, the scammer escalates their claims, creating a sense of urgency and desperation. By this stage, the victim is emotionally invested and feels compelled to act.

For victims in government, law enforcement, or corporate positions, this emotional manipulation can have serious security implications. Consider the case of a U.S. Department of Defense contractor who was targeted by a scammer posing as a war refugee. The scammer claimed to be trapped in a conflict zone, needing assistance to escape. As trust deepened, the scammer convinced the victim to provide classified flight schedules and troop movement details under the pretense of helping coordinate an escape plan. The victim believed they were acting out of compassion, unaware that they were endangering national security.

Similarly, in the financial sector, scammers manipulate employees into bypassing security protocols under the guise of assisting someone in distress. A common tactic is to fabricate an emergency where the scammer needs urgent access to funds. By leveraging the victim’s empathy, they convince them to override standard verification procedures, leading to unauthorized transfers or security breaches.

One notable case involved a European banking executive who was manipulated into approving fraudulent wire transfers. The scammer, posing as a distant relative, claimed to be facing imminent deportation and needed financial assistance to secure legal representation. The victim, moved by the story, bypassed standard approval channels and authorized the transfer, only to later realize they had fallen for a well-orchestrated scam.

This form of manipulation is especially dangerous because it bypasses logical reasoning. Scammers do not directly demand sensitive information or financial favors—they create scenarios that make the victim feel morally obligated to help. The emotional pressure can be so intense that even experienced professionals fail to recognize the deception until it is too late.

Recognizing and Preventing Manipulation

Understanding how scammers exploit emotional bonding, shared interests, and empathy is the first step in preventing manipulation. Individuals working in sensitive fields must be especially cautious in online relationships, particularly when interacting with strangers who quickly form deep emotional connections.

Security protocols should emphasize the importance of verifying identities before sharing any information, regardless of how genuine a person seems. Organizations should conduct regular training on social engineering tactics, helping employees recognize the psychological techniques scammers use to gain trust.

Individuals must also be aware of their own vulnerabilities. Emotional manipulation thrives on a victim’s need for connection, validation, and purpose. By maintaining a healthy level of skepticism and setting firm boundaries in personal and professional interactions, people can protect themselves from becoming targets.

While scammers rely on deception, their success ultimately depends on the willingness of victims to trust them. By understanding the warning signs, questioning unusual requests, and prioritizing security over emotional impulses, individuals can safeguard both their personal lives and the institutions they serve.

For instance, in a notable case, an Australian couple lost their $48,000 house deposit to scammers who impersonated their solicitor’s office. The fraudsters manipulated the couple into transferring funds to a fraudulent account, showcasing the sophisticated methods employed to exploit victims’ trust.

Scammers as State Actors

In certain instances, scammers operate on behalf of state actors, including nations like North Korea, China, Iran, or Russia. These state-sponsored operations aim to gather intelligence, disrupt adversaries, or fund governmental initiatives. For example, reports have indicated that cybercriminals associated with these countries have targeted individuals to extract information or financial resources, which are then utilized to support state agendas. ​

Post-Scam Blackmail Tactics

After successfully executing a scam, perpetrators may resort to blackmail to extract further information or resources. Armed with compromising data or sensitive communications, scammers threaten to expose victims unless additional demands are met. This coercion can lead to:​

Disclosure of Classified Information

Victims of relationship scams often find themselves in emotionally vulnerable positions, manipulated into revealing information they would typically guard closely. When the victim is a government employee, a military officer, or someone working in a sensitive industry such as cybersecurity or finance, the consequences of such disclosure can be severe. Scammers, particularly those working on behalf of state actors, use emotional manipulation, social engineering, and coercion to extract classified or restricted data.

A common tactic is to establish an intense emotional connection with the victim, making them believe they are in a genuine romantic relationship. Scammers create scenarios that require secrecy—such as an overseas lover in distress, an emergency that necessitates immediate action, or a fabricated legal problem that demands inside knowledge to resolve. In these situations, the victim, feeling responsible for their supposed partner’s well-being, may disclose restricted information in an attempt to help.

For example, in 2018, a British Ministry of Defence employee was tricked into revealing classified details about troop movements to an online persona claiming to be a U.S. military officer stationed abroad. The scammer, later linked to a foreign intelligence agency, built trust over several months before asking for seemingly innocuous but sensitive data. The victim, believing they were assisting a military ally, unknowingly compromised national security.

Scammers can also manipulate victims into sending documents, passwords, or access credentials under the pretense of verifying identity or assisting in a fabricated emergency. If the scam is linked to a state-sponsored actor, this information can be passed directly to intelligence agencies of hostile nations, further exacerbating security risks.

Financial Exploitation

Beyond the emotional and psychological toll, financial exploitation is a significant concern for victims ensnared in these scams. Scammers working for personal gain or as part of an organized group frequently exploit victims by demanding continuous financial support. In cases involving blackmail or threats of exposure, victims may feel they have no choice but to comply with these financial demands to avoid professional and personal ruin.

Financial exploitation often starts subtly, with small requests for money that escalate over time. In many cases, scammers introduce fabricated emergencies that require immediate financial assistance. Victims working in government or high-level corporate positions may divert funds from their own finances to meet these demands, leading to personal financial collapse. In extreme situations, they may misappropriate company or government funds to satisfy the scammer’s relentless financial demands, creating legal and ethical violations.

One notable example is the case of a high-ranking financial executive in Singapore who fell for an online romance scam in 2021. The scammer, posing as an affluent investor, manipulated the victim into sending large sums of money under the guise of business investments. Over time, the victim was coerced into siphoning company funds to sustain the relationship, ultimately resulting in their termination and criminal charges.

In situations involving government employees, financial coercion can also serve as a pathway to espionage. Scammers who realize their victim is in a sensitive role may demand insider information in exchange for financial relief. This is particularly dangerous when the scammer is affiliated with foreign intelligence agencies seeking economic or military intelligence.

Operational Compromise

When victims hold positions of influence in government, law enforcement, military, or corporate settings, they may be coerced into actions that undermine security. Scammers can exploit their influence to facilitate unauthorized access, sabotage operations, or enable cybersecurity breaches.

Operational compromise often occurs when a victim, desperate to prevent exposure, agrees to actions they would typically resist. This may include granting system access, bypassing security protocols, or intentionally overlooking suspicious activity. When state-sponsored actors are involved, these compromises can serve broader intelligence-gathering missions, allowing hostile nations to gain access to confidential data, disrupt operations, or weaken national security defenses.

One case illustrating operational compromise is that of a U.S. defense contractor who, in 2020, was manipulated into providing access credentials to a supposed online lover. The scammer, later linked to an Eastern European cybercrime syndicate, convinced the victim that they needed remote access to classified project data. Under emotional pressure and blackmail, the victim provided login credentials, leading to a data breach affecting sensitive military technology.

Another example involves law enforcement personnel who, under the influence of a scammer, may unknowingly obstruct investigations or provide information on ongoing cases. Scammers targeting police officers or security officials often pose as distressed individuals needing protection. Through emotional manipulation, they persuade their victims to reveal internal protocols or details about investigations, which can be used to evade capture or obstruct justice.

The risk of operational compromise extends beyond government roles. Corporate executives, particularly those in finance and technology sectors, are frequently targeted for insider access. A 2022 study on cybersecurity breaches revealed that 15% of corporate data leaks originated from employees manipulated through social engineering tactics, including relationship scams. Once compromised, these individuals may feel trapped, unable to report the breach for fear of professional repercussions.

Addressing the Threat

To mitigate the risks associated with scams that lead to classified disclosure, financial exploitation, and operational compromise, institutions must implement stringent awareness programs and cybersecurity protocols. Regular training on social engineering tactics, mandatory reporting mechanisms for suspected scams, and psychological support for victims can help prevent these breaches from occurring.

Government agencies and corporations must also adopt a proactive approach to digital security by monitoring employees for unusual financial transactions, sudden behavioral shifts, and potential online vulnerabilities. Early intervention can prevent minor incidents from escalating into full-scale breaches.

Ultimately, relationship scams are not just financial crimes—they represent a profound national security risk when victims in strategic positions are manipulated into acts that threaten security, economic stability, and confidential operations. By recognizing the tactics scammers use and strengthening protective measures, both individuals and institutions can reduce vulnerabilities and protect critical information from falling into the wrong hands.

In a recent incident, an elderly couple from Ohio lost $45,000 of their retirement savings to scammers posing as bank officials. The fraudsters manipulated the couple into withdrawing their funds and delivering them to a supposed bank executive, highlighting the lengths to which scammers will go to exploit victims. ​

Facilitating Cybersecurity Breaches

Scammers often manipulate victims into actions that compromise cybersecurity, such as:​

• Installing Malware: Convincing victims to download attachments or click links that introduce malicious software into secure systems.​

• Sharing Credentials: Deceiving victims into providing login information, granting unauthorized access to sensitive networks.​

• Bypassing Security Protocols: Persuading victims to disable security measures, leaving systems vulnerable to attacks.​

For example, a sophisticated scam operation based in Tbilisi, Georgia, known as the “skameri,” used deepfakes and high-pressure sales tactics to defraud over 6,000 individuals, resulting in losses totaling £27 million. The scammers lured victims into investing in fraudulent schemes, demonstrating the advanced methods employed to breach cybersecurity defenses.

Conclusion

The intersection of relationship scams and national security is a growing concern. Scammers’ ability to manipulate victims into divulging sensitive information poses significant risks, especially when state actors are involved. Awareness and proactive measures are essential to mitigate these threats and protect both individuals and national interests.

Corporate and Institutional Support

The SCARS Institute team of world-case experts in the Psychology of Scams and in understanding scam victims, having helped more than 11 million scam victims, can help corporations, organizations, and institutions to harden their teams against scams and scam victimization. If you would like to explore this in more detail contact Dr. McGuinness at drtim@AgainstScams.org to explore your needs and potential SCARS Institute solutions.