“My Parents’ Expectations Were Overwhelming”: Online Dating Romance Scams Targeting Minors in Iran Through Exploitation of Parental Pressure

Minors are at risk of myriad harms online, yet online dating romance scams are seldom considered one of them. While research on romance scams in Western countries finds victims to be predominantly middle-age, it is unknown whether minors in geographic regions with cultural norms around teenage marriage are uniquely susceptible to online dating romance scams. We present an interview study with 16 victims of online dating romance scams in Iran who were minors when scammed. Our findings show that, with Western dating apps banned in Iran, scammers locate teenage victims through messaging platforms tethered to local neighborhoods, offering relief from parental pressures related to finding a marital partner and academic performance. Using threats, lies, and the exploitation of emotional attachment lacking from their families, scammers pressured minors into financial and sexual favors. This study demonstrates how local cultural context should be foregrounded in future research on, and solutions for, technology-mediated harm against minors. Content Warning: This paper discusses sexual abuse.