Cybervictimization

Nowadays, cybervictimization is a significant challenge and concern. This study aimed to explore the predictors of an aggregate measure of cybervictimization, which comprises property (online consumer fraud, online identity theft), interpersonal (cyberbullying and cyberstalking), as well as phishing and malware discovery cybervictimizations. An online survey was self-administered to 726 individuals, measuring sociodemographic variables and routine activity variables, stemming from Routine Activities Theory (RAT).

Of the 726 individuals, 440 were already victims of at least one cybercrime. Moreover, the results suggest that RAT is important in explaining cybercrime since communicating or giving personal information to unknown individuals doubled the likelihood of being victimized online. Finally, while education increased the likelihood of victimization, higher income was associated with a lower likelihood of online victimization.