Human Factors Leading to Online Fraud Victimisation: Literature Review and Exploring the Role of Personality Traits

The Relevance Of The Human Factor In Explaining Cyber Victimisation

The rising threat that cybercrime poses has increased the urgency to gain an understanding of online fraud victimisation (NCSC, 2015). The opportunities that the internet offers are multiplying, and society is increasingly adjusting to the idea that these opportunities should be used (Pratt, Holtfreter, & Reisig, 2010). Moreover, the rise in these options is going hand in hand with a decline in the number of analogue alternatives available (NCSC, 2015). As a consequence, people are becoming more dependent on the internet, which in turn is exacerbating their vulnerability (Choi, 2008; Furnell, Bryant, & Phippen, 2007). If we are to steer future developments in the field of information technology in the right direction when it comes to safety and security, then it is essential that we have a good understanding of online fraud and what makes people fall victim to it. The knowledge emanating from this chapter can help various organisations, like the police, banks and commercial companies, both on- and offline, to arrive at more effective, behaviour-oriented preventive measures.