Love scam as the art of manipulation through Instagram in Indonesia

Following the widespread use of dating apps, social media platforms have become new grounds for cybercrimes, with women being the primary targets. This study explores love scams on Instagram, focusing on women as victims and examining the gender narratives involved. The central aim of these schemes is to exploit women financially under the pretense of love. This study highlights the experiences of women striving to resist such crimes. By employing critical discourse analysis, this study deconstructs the methods utilized in love scams. It also investigates the manipulation tactics used by the scammers, contrasting victims with non-victims. The findings of this study reveal four primary strategies employed to lure victims: showcasing residential locations, occupations, lifestyles, and body images on Instagram. These exploitative strategies ultimately aim at financial gain through romantic relationships. The victims, however, endure mental distress due to societal stigma and cultural taboos. This study underlines the vulnerabilities of women in cyberspace and calls for future gender-focused studies to address the ramifications of the rapidly advancing media technologies.