ObjectiveThe paper compares victim group characteristics: we test routine activities theory to co... more ObjectiveThe paper compares victim group characteristics: we test routine activities theory to compare the differences in online fraud vulnerabilities of victims aged 18–54 and victims of 55 and above.Methods/sampleA representative sample of US citizens 18 and above was collected in October 2020. Victims under 55 encompassed 35.3% (n = 915), victims 55 and above 12.9% (n = 334) of the total sample (n = 2,589). We utilized non-parametric statistical methods for testing whether older and younger victims’ characteristics can be derived from the same independent variables.ResultsComputer time, computer familiarity, and technical guardians determine online victimization in older individuals, similarly to younger age groups. However, older victims differ in characteristics from younger victims. Seniors were less likely to apply technical guardians such as camera cover, identity theft monitoring, and credit card freeze, even after experiencing online scams. Being a single parent was a protective factor for older individuals, but having a full-time job made older individuals more prone to experience online fraud victimization compared to being retired. In addition, older victims were less likely to report scams than younger ones.Conclusion/implicationsAlthough this research found significant differences between older and younger fraud victims’ characteristics, target suitability and capable guardianship must be further investigated and conceptualized when applying routine activities theory for online fraud against older people.
Criminal Justice Studies: A Critical Journal of Crime, Law and Society, 2024
Cybercrime has become a major societal concern, and a better
understanding of cybercrime is neede... more 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.
Cybercrime has become a major societal concern, and a better understanding of cybercrime is neede... more 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.
Monatsschrift Fur Kriminologie Und Strafrechtsreform, Feb 1, 2014
The conditions and practices of tertiary prevention in Hungarian prisons do not meet the desired ... more The conditions and practices of tertiary prevention in Hungarian prisons do not meet the desired standards regarding treatment requirements for sexual offenders. In line with the criminal law reform in Hungary, a new criminal code has been introduced in the summer of 2013. As a result, the chapter of sexual offenses has been modernized and an improved protection of the underage has been mediated. According to the European and international standards, sex offenders have more rights than in the past and member states must fulfill the requirements by the end of 2013. The practice however, does not predict a smooth way to do that. Financial and attitude-based obstacles can be detected – both among prison staff and the society as well. In a world where politicians collect votes by supporting punitive measures, criminal policy does not advocate for treatment ideology. The overview is based on the Statistics of the National Headquarters of Penalty Enforcement and the findings of an exploratory study carried out in 2011 by the Hungarian National Institute of Criminology (NIC).
Abstract The Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center is an academic center located on a public ... more Abstract The Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center is an academic center located on a public university campus and staffed by faculty and students. The Center provides high-quality, evidence-based programming for students, educators, and other community members involved in K-12 education. The focus is on understanding and preventing social problems among children, with a particular emphasis on bullying, cyberbullying, and digital communications. The Center and available programming are described. Qualitative and quantitative data gathered through informal and formal research methodologies are presented and suggestions made for future evaluation efforts are discussed. cyberbullying, bullying, evidence-based, prevention, primary school (or elementary and middle school), secondary school (or high school), professional development, service learning, University model, high-status peers.
ObjectiveThe paper compares victim group characteristics: we test routine activities theory to co... more ObjectiveThe paper compares victim group characteristics: we test routine activities theory to compare the differences in online fraud vulnerabilities of victims aged 18–54 and victims of 55 and above.Methods/sampleA representative sample of US citizens 18 and above was collected in October 2020. Victims under 55 encompassed 35.3% (n = 915), victims 55 and above 12.9% (n = 334) of the total sample (n = 2,589). We utilized non-parametric statistical methods for testing whether older and younger victims’ characteristics can be derived from the same independent variables.ResultsComputer time, computer familiarity, and technical guardians determine online victimization in older individuals, similarly to younger age groups. However, older victims differ in characteristics from younger victims. Seniors were less likely to apply technical guardians such as camera cover, identity theft monitoring, and credit card freeze, even after experiencing online scams. Being a single parent was a protective factor for older individuals, but having a full-time job made older individuals more prone to experience online fraud victimization compared to being retired. In addition, older victims were less likely to report scams than younger ones.Conclusion/implicationsAlthough this research found significant differences between older and younger fraud victims’ characteristics, target suitability and capable guardianship must be further investigated and conceptualized when applying routine activities theory for online fraud against older people.
Criminal Justice Studies: A Critical Journal of Crime, Law and Society, 2024
Cybercrime has become a major societal concern, and a better
understanding of cybercrime is neede... more 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.
Cybercrime has become a major societal concern, and a better understanding of cybercrime is neede... more 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.
Monatsschrift Fur Kriminologie Und Strafrechtsreform, Feb 1, 2014
The conditions and practices of tertiary prevention in Hungarian prisons do not meet the desired ... more The conditions and practices of tertiary prevention in Hungarian prisons do not meet the desired standards regarding treatment requirements for sexual offenders. In line with the criminal law reform in Hungary, a new criminal code has been introduced in the summer of 2013. As a result, the chapter of sexual offenses has been modernized and an improved protection of the underage has been mediated. According to the European and international standards, sex offenders have more rights than in the past and member states must fulfill the requirements by the end of 2013. The practice however, does not predict a smooth way to do that. Financial and attitude-based obstacles can be detected – both among prison staff and the society as well. In a world where politicians collect votes by supporting punitive measures, criminal policy does not advocate for treatment ideology. The overview is based on the Statistics of the National Headquarters of Penalty Enforcement and the findings of an exploratory study carried out in 2011 by the Hungarian National Institute of Criminology (NIC).
Abstract The Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center is an academic center located on a public ... more Abstract The Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center is an academic center located on a public university campus and staffed by faculty and students. The Center provides high-quality, evidence-based programming for students, educators, and other community members involved in K-12 education. The focus is on understanding and preventing social problems among children, with a particular emphasis on bullying, cyberbullying, and digital communications. The Center and available programming are described. Qualitative and quantitative data gathered through informal and formal research methodologies are presented and suggestions made for future evaluation efforts are discussed. cyberbullying, bullying, evidence-based, prevention, primary school (or elementary and middle school), secondary school (or high school), professional development, service learning, University model, high-status peers.
Uploads
Papers
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.
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.