An exploratory analysis of youth involvement in online fraud

• In Event: Roundtable: Crime Refracted?: Online Deviance in the New Platform Ecosystem

Abstract

Research has explored the correlates of various forms of youth cybercrime offending, with particular focus on simple forms of computer hacking, piracy, and sexual deviance. Less research has explored economic forms of cybercrime, particularly various forms of online fraud. As a result, it is unclear how frequently youth engage in these offenses and the extent to which traditional theories of offending may apply. This exploratory analysis attempts to address these questions using quantitative analyses of survey data collected from a large sample of youth from Adelaide, South Australia. The findings demonstrate that a small proportion of youth engage in fraud, though routine online activities are correlated with offending. The implications of this analysis for our understanding of economic cybercrime will be explored in depth.

Author

• Thomas J. Holt, Michigan State University