Dearden, Thomas E.Jasperson, Jill O.Miller, Ronald M.2025-01-092025-01-092024-05-08Dearden, T., Jasperson, J.O. and Miller, R.M. (2025), "Mechanisms of affinity fraud victimization", Journal of Financial Crime, Vol. 32 No. 1, pp. 64-76. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFC-01-2024-0017https://hdl.handle.net/10919/124052Purpose: This study aims to investigate the relationship between religiosity, belief in a just world (BJW), trust and affinity fraud. Design/methodology/approach: Using an online panel vendor, this study collected survey data from 1,030 participants. Participants are balanced based on US Census data. Findings: This study finds evidence that religiosity and, to a lesser extent, trust were correlated with choosing an affinity investor but not BJW. Overall, this study adds to the literature on fraud by examining the potential processes of tricking a victim. Originality/value: This study examines the complex decision-making around investing with fraudsters. This study disentangles the relationship between affinity fraud, decision-making, trust and religiosity. Furthermore, this consider the reasons why a shared affinity may increase trust through the lens of the decision-maker.enIn CopyrightArticle - Refereedhttps://doi.org/10.1108/JFC-01-2024-0017Dearden, Thomas [0000-0003-0549-927X]