Abstract

This chapter explores the power of the epistolary mode as a ‘ready-made language’ that lends itself to the production of romance and intimacy by email scammers. It draws connections between romance scams and melodramatic tradition suggesting that the former is a kind of contemporary, digital version of the classical genre that is infused with personal and political tragedy. The chapter closes with an exploration into the complex production of romance scams; how individuals and organized work units perform the role of a romantic, epistolary partner.

Keywords: romance; scams; email; melodrama; language; Letter from an Unknown Woman

Her name was Esperanza. A thirty-five-year-old Puerto Rican woman running a construction business and nurturing a great passion for humanitarian ventures. Sadly, her husband had died two years ago. She sent pictures of herself and her little daughter via the online dating platform Match.com in Feb. 2007.

At first, Fred responded casually to her letters. But then, he suddenly found himself falling in love with her.

A few months later, he told his family that he was going to leave his wife and their children to live with Esperanza. When his mother asked him if he had ever met her, his answer was no. He’d meet her, in time. By now they were calling each other and chatting. She had cancelled their first meeting at the last minute. He had waited at the airport, flowers in hand, trembling more with fear than anticipation.

Looking back, he couldn't understand how he could not have known. She wouldn't turn on her webcam while chatting. One technical problem followed another; communication was ruptured by unannounced sudden meetings. But on the other hand she never asked for money either. Until the day she died.

An official called him from the U.S. embassy in Denmark, where she had travelled on business. She had accidentally been killed in a random shootout between rival gangs. It was the worst day in Fred's life.

He transferred money to repatriate her body. He was numb with shock. Nothing mattered. None of the multiple problems that arose in the process mattered. He decided that he wouldn't go see her. He couldn't face the idea that their first date would be after her death.

The end of the story was sudden. His friend did research online.