Hello, I’m Martina
I am a researcher and a published author specializing in scam psychology and persuasion. I combine psychological science, behavioral insight, and real-world scam examples to explore how scammers influence decision-making and how victims can better protect themselves.
Beyond academic writing, I work in the tech industry as a strategic UX and product researcher, with a focus on cybersecurity and AI, including the responsible use of AI.
I completed my PhD at the University of Portsmouth (UK), where I developed the first dedicated measure of susceptibility to fraud (read my thesis), specifically designed based on both the vulnerabilities described by fraud victims and insights from academic literature.
Since then, I have authored a book exploring the complexities of scams and how they exploit inherent human traits. More recently, I also published a book chapter in The Routledge International Handbook of Online Deviance, on grooming connected to scams, particularly the long-term grooming that occurs in romance fraud and pig-butchering scams.
I also frequently contribute to industry blogs, podcasts, and news articles on the topics around scams and the ethical use of AI (see Media & Writing).
