Patterns and predictors of cyber fraud victimization: Testing routine activity theory and general theory of crime in Japan

Abstract

Although previous research on the predictors of cyber fraud victimization has provided evidence of the impact of routine activity and low self-control on the risk of cyber fraud victimization, little knowledge is available in Japan. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, no study has yet explored how victims change their risky online behaviors after victimization. Using data from a nationwide survey of cyber fraud victimization, this study aims to determine whether the characteristics of victims of cyber fraud in other advanced nations are applicable to Japan, with a special focus on those explained by routine activity theory and general theory of crime, and how the subsequent behavior of victims changed after victimization. The results of the ordinary least squares regression analyses demonstrate the applicability of routine activity theory and general theory of crime in explaining the predictors of cyber fraud victimization in Japan. Importantly, this study indicates that only a few victims of cyber fraud changed their behavior after victimization.