P065. Inside the cybercrime underworld: who are the actors behind cybercrime?

• In Event: Poster Session & Ice Cream Social

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a rise in the global threat of cybercrime. In response, cybersecurity research has increased, focusing on a preventive approach, while criminological research on the subject remains quite limited. Specifically, most existing studies on the topic concentrate on specific types of cybercriminals, such as hackers, or treat cybercriminals as a single homogeneous category. However, there are few studies on who cybercriminals are, what motivations drive their crimes, and how these criminals are organized (Balogun, 2017; Bada, 2021). Furthermore, existing studies on cybercriminals have focused on cyber-dependent crimes (e.g., hacking, malware), neglecting cyber-enabled crimes, in which traditional offenses are amplified through digital tools.

The aim of this study is to bridge the existing research gap in the literature by understanding and mapping the cybercrime ecosystem, starting from its key actors. To achieve this, it leverages and compares two competing theoretical approaches: the transformationalist approach, which views cybercrime as a novel phenomenon requiring specific theories (Wall, 2001; Yar, 2005; Choo, 2008), and the continuity approach, which considers cybercrime as an extension of traditional criminal behavior (Grabosky, 2001; McGuire, 2012).

Regarding methodology, the goal is to develop a quantitative framework that integrates data science techniques, including Web Scraping, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Social Network Analysis (SNA), to map offender typologies, identify behavioral patterns, and analyze criminal networks. This quantitative approach provides a deeper understanding of how cybercriminals operate, collaborate, and evolve over time.

Thus, this study aims to shift the focus from crimes to criminals, enhancing the understanding of cybercrime ecosystems.

Author

• Gaia Michelazzi, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and Transcrime