Mental health and psychosocial sequelae of fraud victimization: a systematic review
Abstract
Fraud victimization is an increasingly prevalent global problem that extends beyond financial loss, and encompasses substantial mental health and psychosocial harm. Deception, emotional manipulation, and perceived betrayal have been linked to anxiety, depression, shame, trust erosion, and reduced quality of life. Despite these effects, the psychological consequences of fraud victimization remain under-recognized within healthcare and victim support systems. This systematic review synthesizes empirical evidence of mental health and psychosocial outcomes among adults following fraud or scam victimization. A systematic literature search was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines across four electronic databases (PubMed, OVID, Web of Science, and Embase) from inception to December 31, 2025. Empirical quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies examining post-victimization mental health or psychosocial outcomes among adult fraud victims were included. Studies exclusively exploring fraud risk, susceptibility, or financial and legal outcomes without assessing the psychological effects of post-victimization were excluded. Owing to heterogeneity in study designs and outcome measures, the findings were synthesized using a narrative approach. Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. Across diverse populations, fraud types, and cultural contexts, fraud victimization was associated with adverse…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
Read the paper
Related studies
- The neurocircuitry of addiction: an overview
- Gender Differences in Human Brain: A Review
- Stratified medicine for mental disorders
- The neurobiology of drug addiction: cross-species insights into the dysfunction and recovery of the prefrontal cortex
- Annual Research Review: DNA methylation as a mediator in the association between risk exposure and child and adolescent psychopathology
- Schizophrenia: The new etiological synthesis
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.