Towards the normalization of cybercrime victimization: A routine activities analysis of cybercrime in europe

Abstract

This study investigates the relationships between users' routine activities and socio-economic characteristics and three forms of cybercrime victimization of 1) online shopping fraud, 2) online banking fraud and 3) cyber-attacks (i.e. DDoS attacks). Data from the Eurobarometer, containing a sample of 17,811 online European citizens was analyzed. The results generally support the Routine Activities Theory. There were few differences by sex. Younger respondents were more at risk of online purchase fraud, but older respondents more of online banking fraud. Few economic characteristics were related to victimization. The three forms of victimization were interrelated relatively strongly. The characteristic of victims of online crime differ from those of traditional crime. We propose that digitalization leads to a ‘normalization of victims’ of cybercrime.