Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

“Romance Scams” ESL Discussion Questions

I. Understanding Romance Scams
1. What is a romance scam?
2. How do people usually get tricked by romance scams?
3. Why do you think romance scams are successful?
4. Can romance scams happen on any social media platform?
5. What are the signs that someone might be a romance scammer?

II. Victims of Romance Scams
6. Who is more likely to fall victim to romance scams, younger or older people?
7. Why do you think people fall in love with someone they’ve never met in person?
8. What kind of emotional impact do romance scams have on victims?
9. Can being a victim of a romance scam affect a person’s future relationships?
10. How should someone who realizes they are a victim of a romance scam react?

III. The Scammers
11. Why do people become romance scammers?
12. What might be the profile of a typical romance scammer?
13. Do romance scammers work alone or in groups?
14. How do scammers choose their victims?
15. Can romance scammers form real feelings for their victims?

IV. Protecting Yourself
16. How can you protect yourself from becoming a victim of a romance scam?
17. Why is it important to keep personal information private online?
18. What should you do if you suspect someone is trying to scam you?
19. How can verifying someone’s identity help prevent romance scams?
20. Is it a good idea to hire a professional to investigate a potential scammer?

V. Legal Actions and Reporting
21. What legal actions can victims of romance scams take?
22. How can reporting a scammer help others?
23. What challenges do authorities face in catching romance scammers?
24. Can romance scammers be prosecuted if they are in another country?
25. What role do banks and financial institutions play in combating romance scams?

VI. The Role of Technology
26. How has technology made it easier for romance scams to occur?
27. Can technology also help prevent romance scams?
28. What are some technological tools that can identify scam activities?
29. How do social media platforms combat romance scams?
30. Why is it difficult to completely eliminate romance scams from the internet?

VII. Psychological Aspects
31. Why do some people continue to believe in the scammer even after being warned?
32. How do scammers manipulate their victims’ emotions?
33. Can the experience of a romance scam lead to trust issues?
34. What psychological tactics do scammers use to gain trust?
35. How can victims of romance scams recover emotionally?

VIII. Prevention and Education
36. How important is education in preventing romance scams?
37. What kind of information should a romance scam awareness campaign include?
38. How can friends and family help prevent someone from falling for a romance scam?
39. Why is it important to talk about romance scams openly?
40. Can regular updates on scam tactics help people stay protected?

IX. The Future of Romance Scams
41. Do you think romance scams will become more common in the future?
42. How might romance scams evolve with new technologies?
43. What can be done to reduce the number of romance scams in the future?
44. Will it become easier or harder to identify romance scams over time?
45. How can international cooperation help fight romance scams?

X. Personal Opinions and Experiences
46. Would you be able to recognize a romance scam?
47. Have you or someone you know ever encountered a romance scammer?
48. How would you react if a friend told you they were in an online relationship with someone they’ve never met?
49. What advice would you give to someone who’s looking for love online?
50. Do you think finding true love online is possible, despite the risks?

XI. Social Media and Dating Apps
51. How do dating apps and social media sites try to prevent scams?
52. Should people avoid using dating apps because of the risk of scams?
53. What features should dating apps have to protect their users from scams?
54. How can users of dating apps verify the identity of people they talk to?
55. What responsibilities do users have to protect themselves and others from scams on these platforms?

XII. Support for Victims
56. What kind of support is available for victims of romance scams?
57. How can victims of romance scams rebuild their trust in others?
58. Why is it important for victims to share their stories?
59. What should someone do if they feel ashamed of falling for a romance scam?
60. How can society help reduce the stigma associated with being a victim of a romance scam?

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