The cybercrime illusion: Examining the impact of cybercrime misbeliefs on perceptions of cybercrime seriousness

Though research examining cybercrime has surged in recent years, studies exploring perceptions concerning these phenomena have been scant. In fact, little is known regarding the extent to which individuals perceive cybercrime as serious, whether exposure to cybercrime terminology elicit similar perceptions of seriousness as behavioural descriptions of cybercrime, and the factors predicting perceptions of cybercrime seriousness. While research examining offline crime has found a significant relationship between individuals’ adoption of misleading stereotypes and perceived crime seriousness, no study to date has explored this association within a cybercrime context. As such, using data collected from 504 Mechanical Turk adult respondents, the current study examined: (1) the extent to which individuals perceived cybercrime (generally) as serious, (2) whether perceptions of cybercrime seriousness were differentially influenced based on whether cybercrime terms (e.g., “hacking”, “cyberstalking”) were provided relative to behavioural definitions, and (3) whether respondents’ adoption of cybercrime misbeliefs significantly impacted perceptions of cybercrime seriousness, net of other factors (i.e., comfort with and use of technology, demographic traits). The findings revealed that while more individuals perceived cybercrime as serious when behavioural definitions were provided, the majority of respondents did not perceive cybercrime (generally) as serious. Further, greater adoption of cybercrime misbeliefs and frequent device use were significant predictors of perceived cybercrime seriousness only when behavioural definitions were given. In addition, older respondents were more likely to view cybercrime as serious, while men were less likely to view cybercrime as serious in both models. Collectively, the findings reveal the need for effective educational and awareness campaigns, which are discussed in detail.