VIRTUAL LOVE SWINDLER: HELPLESSNESS, FANTASY, AND MANIPULATION IN VIRTUAL RELATIONSHIPS

Abstract

Virtual love scam, also known as "love fraud," is a complex form of emotional, psychological, and financial violence in which the criminal uses the construction of fantastical romantic relationships to exploit the victim's vulnerability (Almeida, Alves, & Cerewuta, 2022; Ricotta, 2022). This article presents a theoretical and conceptual reflection on the phenomenon, articulating critical criminology, Brazilian and Argentinian criminal law, psychoanalysis, clinical psychology, and neuroscience (Zaffaroni, Alagia, & Slokar, 2024; Dunker, 2021; Papacídero, 2025). The concepts of helplessness, fantasy, phantom attachment, emotional dependence, and affective manipulation are discussed, as well as the legal-penal frameworks and possible correlations with diagnostic categories of the DSM-5-TR and ICD-10/11 (American Psychiatric Association, 2022; Pan American Health Organization, 2024). It is argued that subjective vulnerability – marked by low self-esteem, need for external validation, social isolation, and the search for belonging – is potentiated by the architecture of digital social networks, which favor fragile, idealized, and highly manipulable bonds (Bauman, 2004; Han, 2017; Soares, 2022). The need for integrated responses that articulate prevention, criminal accountability, and clinical support for victims is advocated, avoiding blame-placing discourses and recognizing the depth of the psychological suffering involved (Ricotta, 2022; Soares, 2024).