An Integrative Analysis of Cyberfraudsters’ Motivations: A Comprehensive Examination of Conventional Criminological Theories

• In Event: Advancing our Understanding of Choice and Decision Making

Abstract

Criminal behavior is complex and multifaceted, making it challenging to understand fully. Cultural variations and evolutionary changes over time add further complexity. As a result, questions about what constitutes a crime and what factors drive criminal behavior lack simple answers. Scholars recognize the need to integrate cybercrime into theoretical frameworks to understand modern criminal motivations comprehensively. Hence, this study takes an integrative approach, combining various theories to analyze the motivations of cyberfraudsters. The researchers recruited 515 cyberfraudsters from three hotspots in Ghana using a chain referral sampling technique. Analyzing the data with ordinal logistic regression, the findings show that higher formal costs and stronger social bonds decrease the likelihood of continued involvement in cyberfraud. Alternatively, perceptions of financial rewards and the relief of strain related to inequality tend to increase engagement in such activities. The research also supports the idea that the use of neutralization techniques and the perception of de-individualization in the virtual world moderate the relationship between perceived costs and engagement in cyberfraud, while reinforcing the impact of perceived benefits. By integrating mainstream criminological theories and cyber-specific theories, this study contributes to our understanding of cybercrime and provides insights for combating this modern form of criminal behavior.

Author

• Aikins Amoako Asiama, Lingnan University