The Financial Leash: Cyberfinancial Abuse within Intimate Relationships

ABSTRACT Past research on intimate partner violence (IPV) has examined physical, sexual, emotional/psychological, and financial forms of abuse and its impacts on people within harmful relationships. However, there is a lack of research on the impact of cyberfinancial abuse on people experiencing IPV. This paper presents the experiences and effect of cyberfinancial abuse, such as identity theft and fraud, on people with a history of IPV victimization. Twenty-three semi-structured interviews were conducted with women who experienced IPV and at least one type of cyberfinancial abuse. The experiences of these people, including the nature and extent of their victimization, as well as the impact it had on their lives, their employment and their ability to leave their abuser is discussed. Additionally, feedback is gathered on their ability to maintain their independence, which then leads to our discussion of how laypersons and stakeholders can better assist individuals who experience crime.