Cybercrime Victimization Research Articles

Mapping the Influences of Social Network Site Use on Cybercrime Victimization: Trends and Recommendations

Mapping the Influences of Social Network Site Use on Cybercrime Victimization: Trends and Recommendations

Exploring the Factors Preventing Older Adults From Reporting Cybercrime and Seeking Help: A Qualitative, Semistructured Interview Study

Background: Older adults under‐report cybercrime, despite being more likely than younger people to experience repeat victimisation, financial loss and more severe emotional consequences. Considering vulnerabilities more common in old age, we sought to identify, and consider ways to address, barriers that older people experience when reporting cybercrime to statutory agencies with a role in reporting.Methods: From community groups, police and victim support, and health and social care organisations, we purposively invited people aged 60+ who had experienced cybercrime (n = 16), their supporting family members (n = 2) and professional stakeholders (n = 15) to participate in semistructured in‐person or virtual interviews and conducted a reflexive thematic analysis.Results: Across 33 interviews, we identified four themes: (1) Shame and fear of repercussion; (2) Reporting unhelpful to emotional and financial recovery; (3) Lack of knowledge of scams and sources of support; and (4) Social support makes a difference.Conclusions: Digital ageism, evidenced by structural barriers, stigma and disempowerment experienced by older adults deciding whether to report cybercrime, warrants attention from the FJN and authorities. Independent “advocates” such as health, social care and third sector professionals can support older victims of cybercrime to navigate such reporting challenges.

Cybercrime during the COVID-19 pandemic: Prevalence, nature and impact of cybercrime for citizens and SME owners in the Netherlands

The outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in December 2019 and the restrictive measures that were implemented to slow down the spread of the virus have had a significant impact on our way of life. The sudden shift from offline to online activities and work may have resulted in new cybersecurity risks. The present study therefore examined changes in the prevalence, nature and impact of cybercrime among Dutch citizens and SME owners, during the pandemic. Qualitative interviews with ten experts working at various public and private organizations in the Netherlands that have insights into cybercrime victimization and data from victim surveys administrated in 2019 and 2021 were analyzed. The results show that there was only a small, non-statistically significant increase in the prevalence of cybercrime during the pandemic among citizens and SME owners. Nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic did have an impact on the modus operandi of cybercriminals: victims indicated that a considerable proportion of the offenses was related to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the case of online fraud. Moreover, the use of new applications and programs for work was associated with an increased risk of cybercrime victimization during the COVID-19 crisis. These results suggest that increases in rates of registered cybercrime that were found in previous studies might be the consequence of a reporting effect and that cybercriminals adapt their modus operandi to current societal developments.

Understanding Cyber Threats Vulnerability of Future Victimization in Fintech

Individuals’ participation in online activities is expanding, and the number of businesses moving to online operations is increasing, raising the possibility that they will become victims of cybercrime. Vulnerability in a technological system refers to any flaw or weak point within a technology or network that could be used to inflict damage or give an attacker unauthorized control. On the other hand, victimization results from intentional actions by an individual or organization to exploit, harm, or unlawfully gain access to another’s assets or possessions. This research seeks to evaluate the future vulnerability of private sector employees to cybercrime when using FinTech. This study was conducted using an approach drawing from victimization theory. The study focuses on three primary factors influencing vulnerability: the economic shutdown, income inequality, and reliance on technology. The primary method for gathering data in this study was through questionnaire surveys, specifically distributed among service sector employees in Malaysia. Findings from this study show that economic shutdown (ES) due to COVID-19 and income inequality (II) have a significant positive relation with the vulnerability of future victimization in FinTech. However, reliance on technology does not significantly influence the vulnerability of future victimization in FinTech. This research contributes to the expanding body of knowledge regarding risk factors associated with future victimization in FinTech. The findings benefit companies and individuals, offering insights into areas that should be fortified to decrease vulnerability.

Mitigating risks of online engagement; considering the contexts and mechanisms of cybercrime among older adults

AbstractBackgroundThis talk will explore how benefits of remote interventions can be realised for older people with cognitive impairments alongside risk mitigation, drawing on a realist review of how and in what circumstances older people become victims of cybercrime. We aimed to identify factors leading to older adults' victimisation, and review theory and evidence for interventions to reduce victimisation risks.MethodWe conducted a realist review synthesising published literature and gathering stakeholder experiences via an online workshop to understand how, why and in what circumstances older adults are at risk of financial cybercrime victimisation. We used the evidence to develop a programme theory and Context, Mechanism, Outcome Configurations (CMOCs) to explain the mechanisms by which older adults become victims of financial cybercrime in different contexts, and to inform the development of interventions to produce desired outcomes of reducing and preventing cybercrime.ResultWe analysed 52 primary and secondary data sources and consulted with 21 stakeholders from across health, social, legal, and financial sectors. Our programme theory comprised 16 CMOCs describing how social isolation, cognitive decline, physical and mental health problems; wealth status, limited cyber security skills or awareness, societal attitudes and content of scams led to increased risk of victimisation. Only evidence for interventions to enhance cyber security awareness and skills of potential older victims was identified. Targeting offender motivation, redesign of security software to increase usability by older people and training programmes for professionals and family members are rational, yet untested interventions. A shift in societal attitudes, conveying positive messages, of older people’s rights to be safely active online, is needed too.ConclusionProtection from cybercrime is instrumental to supporting ageing in a digital world. Incorporating cyber security awareness into future interventions that promote social connectedness, cognition and healthy lifestyles, alongside legal structural protections, and measures to improve societal attitudes towards financial cybercrime victimisation will help older adults navigate online spaces safely. Training programmes targeting older adults, or their supporters should be deliverable by a range of professionals for greatest reach; and be co‐designed with end users to ensure that if they are useful, they are acceptable and used.

Experiences and perceptions of cybercrime victims in Ghana: The Perspective of digital consumers of agricultural produce

Experiences and perceptions of cybercrime victims in Ghana: The Perspective of digital consumers of agricultural produce

Assessing the socio-economic impacts of cybercrime

There are wildly different estimates of the cost of cybercrime. Often, it is not clear how the estimates were made, nor what criteria were used. The costs of cybercrime go beyond the only financial. Cybercrime has social impacts too that are rather more difficult to measure or quantify, but nevertheless are real. Individual cybercrime victims often suffer stress, anxiety, fear of being victimised again. Communities suffer from a lack of trust and social polarisation. The authors directed a study of the socio-economic impacts of cybercrime and put forward a methodology for assessing the socio-economic impacts of cybercrime. Having a more accurate assessment of cybercrime will help policymakers and law enforcement authorities assign an appropriate priority to combatting cybercrime.

SUBJECTIVE SIGNS OF CYBER CRIME

In this article, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are very easy victims of cybercrime, they primarily related the growth of cybercrime to SMEs, not large enterprises. Such enterprises, because of their small budget, lack of qualified personnel andgaps in the knowledge of employees, cannot provide high-quality information security to the required level, and they should approach subjectively this.

Trends of cybercrime from 2001 to 2021: cybersecurity action plan for Papua New Guinea

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and by extension the Internet, have brought immense sociological transformations to humanity. Despite the development the Internet has brought to humanity, the Government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG) has not lost sight of the fact that the use of ICTs and other related supporting devices are fraught with cybercrime and cyber insecurities that constitute challenges to global law enforcement agencies in PNG and other nations of the world. This paper reports the trends on victims of cybercrimes from 2001 to 2021 and presents an action plan for PNG. The data analysed in this study was explicated from the Internet crime reports published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and National White Collar Crime Center (IC3). The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and XGraph component of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences’ Population Pyramid. The results confirmed that the number of Internet users that were defrauded increased exponentially from 2016 to 2021. Results from the data explicated from the World Bank on Internet use, revealed that the population of Internet users in PNG and Australia will increase at a minimum rate of 1% to 2% for the next few years. These findings suggest that cybercrimes will be on the rise as the number of Internet users increase at 1% to 2% in PNG and Australia in the next few years. The findings present appropriate strategies to address the incidences of cybercrimes in PNG.

Cheques or dating scams? Online fraud themes in hip-hop songs across popular music apps

How do hip-hop songs produced from 2017 to 2023 depict and rationalize online fraud? This study examines the depiction of online fraudsters in thirty-three Nigerian hip-hop songs on nine popular streaming platforms such as Spotify, Deezer, iTunes, SoundCloud, Apple Music, and YouTube. Using a directed approach to qualitative content analysis, we coded lyrics based on the moral disengagement mechanism and core themes derived from existing literature. Our findings shed light on how songs (a) justify the fraudulent actions of online fraudsters, (b) blame and dehumanize victims of online romance fraud, (c) glamorize online fraud, and (d) provide insights into prevailing attitudes, indigenous linguistics, and worldviews regarding cybercrime victimization. Specifically, our analysis shows the presence of moral disengagement mechanisms, including "dehumanization," “minimizing own agency,” and "displacement of responsibility." Moreover, we identify core contextual themes pertinent to online fraud in the Nigerian context: (a) "cyber spiritualism" and (b) "the North-South divide." This research underscores the global influence of musicians whose songs are easily accessible on diverse music platforms in trivializing the plight of online fraud victims. We argue that these artists' persuasive messages not only downplay but also satirize the victims' predicaments, thus contributing to the cultural worldviews and dimensions of online fraud. We conclude by underscoring these songs' capacity to actualize, reshape, and actively engage with the narratives of glamorization, justification, spiritualism, colonial legacies, gender dynamics, and societal implications. We recommend that future research endeavors explore non-conventional data sources adept at capturing the intricate fabric of cultural attitudes and dynamics.

Cyberbullying Victimization and Perpetration in South Korean Youth: Structural Equation Modeling and Latent Means Analysis

This study explores the relationship between cyberbullying perception, social support, internet use time, cybercrime victimization, and cybercrime perpetration for adolescents by using a nationally representative sample—the 2020 Cyber Violence Survey ( N = 4,958, Grades 4–12) in South Korea. Findings include: (1) higher perceptions of cybercrime correspond to a lower likelihood of cyberbullying victimization, (2) greater support from parents and friends decreases the likelihood of cyberbullying victimization and perceptions, (3) Internet usage time is linked to increased chances of experiencing cyberbullying, (4) a significant positive relationship exists between cyber victimization and perpetration, and (5) levels of school management are associated with student cyber safety. Mitigating victimization via early intervention/prevention programs at school were discussed.

Exploring the Prevalence of Cybercrime in the Banking Industry in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

As expenditures in broadband infrastructure in developing countries have increased and barriers to internet access have decreased, this infrastructure has rapidly become a target for cybercrime. Developing countries such as South Africa, Kenya, and India have become the preferred destination for cybercriminals. As banks now rely on digital networks for their business operations, the risk of becoming a cybercrime victim has increased for both the banking industry and its clients. The paper analyses the causes of the increased rate of cybercrime in banks and determines the effectiveness of legislation in addressing the threat posed by cybercrime to the banking industry. This study utilised a qualitative research design using face-to-face interviews with ten participants who were purposively selected. The study revealed the prevalence of internal fraud within the banking industry, poor internal controls, ineffective processes and systems, banking clients’ lack of knowledge and awareness of the looming threat of cybercrime, low conviction rates for cybercriminals; and SAPS officials’ lack of skills in policing cybercrime in KwaZulu- Natal as some of the key factors that exacerbate cybercriminal activities in the banking industry. Based on the transnational character of cybercrime, it had been concluded that the majority of the banks in South Africa and many other countries are under threat of cybercrime, and therefore they need to coordinate and implement a unified effort to tackle the growing threat of cybercriminal activities in the banking industry.

Cybercrime victimization among Virginia businesses: frequency, vulnerabilities, and consequences of cybervictimization

ABSTRACT The Commonwealth of Virginia, USA, is one of the most vulnerable states to cyberattacks and breaches. Analyzing data from 428 online surveys collected from Virginia businesses from multiple vendors and several unique resources, this study provides an in-depth view of the nature and extent of cybercrime victimization in Virginia, highlighting specific vulnerabilities, how the victimization occurred, the consequences of victimization, and if and to whom these breaches were reported. In addition, we describe the extent to which businesses perceive their vulnerabilities, the extent in which companies engage in behaviors that can potentially make them vulnerable, the policies and practices they have in place to reduce vulnerability, and their experiences with victimization. The results provide a quality baseline for understanding cybercrimes against businesses in Virginia.

How victims perceive fear of cybercrime: importance of informed risk

ABSTRACT The Internet and related technology development have increased cybercrime perpetration and victimization opportunities. Individuals who have experienced victimization in the past are fearful of cybercrime. Yet, despite the increase in diversified cybercrime, previous studies have used inaccurate, aggregated measures of victimization and fear. This study uses domain-specific cybercrime victimization and fear measures to clarify the relationships between the two. We further investigate how the level of informed risk of cybercrime, which is fundamental to creating effective policies for combating cybercrime, moderates such associations. Utilizing the 2019 Eurobarometer (N = 20,400, country N = 28), we conducted a separate analysis for each of the 10 types of cybercrime. As expected, a multilevel regression analysis revealed that victims are more likely to fear a type of cybercrime that they have experienced before. More interestingly, such associations are statistically significant for specific types of cybercrime depending on the level of informed risk. Based on these findings, we discuss policy implications for developing and revising campaigns and educational programs for cybercrime victims and the general public and increasing international institutional cooperation.

Routine citizen Internet practices and cyber victimization: a state-wide study in Virginia

ABSTRACT Cybercrime has become a major societal concern, and a better understanding OF cybercrime is needed to target and prevent it more effectively, minimize its consequences, and provide support for victims. Research on cybercrime victimization has exploded in the past few years, but much of it relies on convenience samples and is largely descriptive in nature. The research presented here involves the collection of data from a large sample of Virginia households in 2022 (n = 1,206). The data are analyzed to provide a partial test of routine activity theory to better understand fraud and theft via the Internet. The data provide a solid baseline for describing the extent of cyber victimization across the state. Bivariate and multivariate analyses (logistic regressions) show support for routine activity theory and provide important insights for future research. In particular, we find that certain routine Internet activities may better predict unique forms of cybervictimization than others and that length of time on the Internet is not a good indicator of exposure to motivated offenders. Further, protective guardianship mediates the effects of exposure to motivated offenders; thus, efforts to educate the public on best practices are needed. We conclude that to better assess cybercrime, victimization and engagement, better measurement and longitudinal panel data will be needed.

COVID-19 Pandemic Fuels Rise in Cybercrime

Since the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, economies and daily life in many countries have been significantly affected. To mitigate the spread of the virus, various measures such as travel restrictions, lockdowns, and stay-at-home orders have been implemented worldwide. Consequently, there has been an increased reliance on internet-based methods to ensure public safety and continue essential activities. However, this increased online presence has also provided cybercriminals with opportunities to engage in malicious activities, exploiting the pandemic for financial gain. This study aims to provide a brief review of the cyber activities associated with the COVID-19 outbreak and investigate the extent of cybercrime during this period. A cross-sectional survey was conducted online, involving 400 internet users, to assess the occurrence of cybercrime during the pandemic. The findings indicate that victims of cybercrime encompass not only individuals who use online directories but also those engaging in routine internet searches and email communications. The study reveals that cybercrime has a detrimental impact on users' online experiences, potentially leading them to limit their online activities and resort to offline alternatives. The objective of this research is to comprehensively study cyber-attacks, analyzing the concept and variations of cyber-attacks before and during the COVID-19 pandemic era, in order to identify patterns, trends, and the overall impact of cybercrime on individuals.

Digital Transformation, Benefits and Impacts for Teenagers Study of Student Perceptions of Cybercrime in Yogyakarta State Islamic Senior High School Students

Digital transformation in the field of education provides tremendous benefits for both teachers and students, enabling easy access to a wide range of knowledge and supporting the teaching and learning process, including distance learning. However, digital transformation has had an impact on students, as they often become victims of cybercrime in the form of cyberbullying, which affects the mental well-being of the individuals involved. The purpose of this research is to understand the perception of students at MAN (Madrasah Aliyah Negeri) in Yogyakarta regarding the digitally-based teaching and learning process that utilizes smartphones for activities outside of the classroom. The research method employed in this study is qualitative descriptive research, which involves gathering information about existing phenomena, clearly defining the objectives to be achieved, planning the approach, and collecting data as the basis for creating a report. The research findings indicate that students' perception of social media crime/cybercrime reflects their experiences as observers, perpetrators, and victims. Factors such as individual characteristics, environment, and friendships influence students in engaging in these criminal activities. Students tend to be loyal to their friends, and victims often choose to remain silent. Effective prevention measures have been implemented in schools through collaboration with law enforcement authorities.

Analysis of Interpersonal Communication Patterns of Love Scams Mode on Social Media in Female Students in Medan City

One of the modes that takes the most victims, especially women, is love scams. This mode is to find a mate in cyberspace. People who don't have a soul mate or who are lonely try to find a partner through the internet. The purpose of this study was to determine the pattern of interpersonal communication mode love scams on social media in UIN North Sumatra students. This research covers various issues such as the formulation of the problem, namely, how the mode of love scams on social media among female students can occur. To answer these problems thoroughly and deeply. The research method used is qualitative content analysis using Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) Models consisting of impersonal, interpersonal and hyperpersonal. The study concluded that all three patterns are established in love scam cases. Analysis of this study will be conducted interviews with several sources and observations which will then be verified so that the research is relevant. The results of this study show that often interpersonal communication carried out via social media can create self-disclosure (self-disclosure) which creates high trust between one party which can lead to the occurrence of love scammers. Research contributions based on technological developments that continue to grow and become more sophisticated will also bring greater dangers, one of which is cyber crime, although the number of cases of cybercrime victims is very high, but only a few people dare to report. This is due to the lack of a supervisory system and law in our country, therefore users are required to be good at maintaining personal privacy to avoid crime on social media.

Explaining cybercrime victimization using a longitudinal population-based survey experiment. Are personal characteristics, online routine activities, and actual self-protective online behavior related to future cybercrime victimization?

ABSTRACT With the increasing prevalence of cybercrime victimization there is a growing need for prevention. Previous studies have attempted to uncover risk factors associated with cybercrime victimization in the areas of personal characteristics and online routine activities. This article aims to take the field a step further by including actual self-protective online behavior, obtained through a population-based survey experiment (N = 1886), as a risk factor for cybercrime victimization. In wave 1 of our longitudinal design, personal characteristics, online routine activities, and actual self-protective online behavior concerning password strength, clicking behavior, sharing personal information, and handling phishing emails were measured. In wave 2, cybercrime victimization of several types of cyber-enabled and cyber-dependent cybercrimes was measured one year later. Results indicate that few personal characteristics, online routine activities, and self-protective online behaviors are related to the odds of becoming a cybercrime victim. This furthermore illustrates the heterogeneity of cybercrime victimization, since most significant factors only seem to be related to the risk of one particular type of cybercrime. These results indicate that to explain cybercrime victimization, the research field needs to shift its focus and adapt to new online developments.

PENERAPAN METODE ADDIE PADA PENGEMBANGAN KOMIK INTERAKTIF SEBAGAI MEDIA EDUKASI KEAMANAN DATA PRIBADI BAGI ANAK

In 2020 there was an increase in internet users from the elementary school level, reaching 35.97%. Children's activity in cyberspace has negative impacts, such as the personal data they have can be spread, and there is a great potential for violations of children's rights. They become targets or victims of cybercrime. According to UNICEF data, in 2017, there were five million child profiles and accounts that hackers in the digital world stole. More and more children are using the Internet, but education regarding personal data security with media that suits children's needs is still limited. Therefore, this research will design, design, and build Android-based interactive comics that will be used as educational media for children about personal data security. This research aims to familiarize oneself with personal data security and protection strategies. The specific objective of this study is to make comics by compiling storyline scenarios according to everyday life practices. This research uses the ADDIE method (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation). This research produces a collection of comic strips about personal data security packaged in an Android-based application. Based on the test, the perspective of test participants regarding interactive comic applications is that they have acceptability ranges in the acceptable category, have a grade scale with category C, and have an adjective rating with the good category.