Cybercrime and Digital Victimization

Dear Colleagues,

Research on cybercrime and digital victimization has recently been driven by the rapid integration of online activities into everyday life, ongoing increases in users of online services, and the corresponding rise in cyber threats. Cybercrime includes activities such as romance fraud, pig-butchering operations, phishing, identity theft, child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and cyberbullying. It has become a significant global concern due to the significant financial losses suffered by victims, as well as sometimes severe emotional and psychological harm, including anxiety, depression and, in some tragic cases, suicide. The increasing sophistication of cybercriminals, which now target individuals, businesses, and even governments, underscores the need for comprehensive research to develop an effective understanding of the nature and extent of particular types of cybercrime, as well as producing effective prevention and intervention strategies.

By understanding the dynamics of cybercrime and digital victimization, researchers can help create safer online environments, preventing crime from occurring and, where it does continue to occur, developing more effective supports for victims. High-quality research is crucial for developing policies and technologies that protect against the multitude of ever-evolving threats in the digital world. This Special Issue (SI) aims to showcase research that contributes to understanding cybercriminals' motives and methods, the vulnerabilities they exploit, and the impact on victims. Thus, this Special Issue is expecting to achieve some main targets, including:

1. Focus on Cybercrime Dynamics: Spotlighting the intricate dynamics of cybercrime and digital victimization, emphasizing the need for comprehensive understanding to mitigate risks.
2. Victim Support Development: Aiming to develop more effective support mechanisms for victims, particularly with CSAM, acknowledging their experiences and needs in the digital landscape.
3. High-Quality Research Emphasis: Underscoring the importance of high-quality, rigorous research in formulating robust policies and advanced technologies to combat cyber threats.
4. Exploration of Criminal Behavior: Delving into the motives and methods of cybercriminals, providing insights into their psychology and operational tactics.
5. Vulnerability Analysis: Contributing to a deeper understanding of risk factors inherent in digital interactions by examining the specific vulnerabilities targeted by cybercriminals.
6. Impact on Victims: Considering the profound impact of cybercrime on victims, highlighting the importance of victim-centric policies and practices, particularly with CSAM.
7. Policy and Technological Innovations: Aims to influence the development of innovative policies and technologies tailored to the ever-evolving cyberthreat landscape.

To achieve these targets, contributors are invited to share their insights on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to the following:

1. Emerging Trends in Cybercrime: For example, analyses of new and evolving cyber threats, including ransomware, phishing, and advanced persistent threats (APTs).
2. Impact on Victims: Studies on the psychological, emotional, and financial effects of cybercrime on individuals and organizations, particularly with CSAM.
3. Cyberbullying and Online Harassment: Research on prevalence, impact, and prevention strategies for cyberbullying and online harassment, including CSAM.
4. 4. Identity Theft and Fraud: Including the methods used to commit identity theft, its impact on victims, and effective countermeasures.
5. Legal and Regulatory Responses: Reviewing existing legal and policy frameworks, their implementation, and suggestions for reforms to strengthen the legal stance against cybercrime and to protect victims. This research could be particularly aimed at policymakers, legal professionals, and enforcement agencies.
6. Cybersecurity Measures: Evaluation of technological solutions and best practices for preventing cybercrime and protecting digital assets.
7. Digital Forensics and Incident Response: Advances in digital forensics techniques and strategies for responding to cyber incidents.
8. International Collaboration: The role of international cooperation in addressing global cybercrime and assisting victims across borders.
9. Education and Awareness: The importance of cybersecurity education and awareness programs in preventing cybercrime and supporting victims.
10. Case Studies and Real-World Examples: Detailed case studies of cybercrime incidents and the lessons learned from them.

We invite submissions on these and other relevant subjects. We especially encourage submissions that emphasize specific recommendations, collaborative initiatives, and effective strategies for tackling cybercrime and protecting victims. These might include multidisciplinary research, partnerships between the public and private sectors, and global collaborations, offering a platform for sharing models and methods. Overall, this Special Issue is aimed towards promoting research on cybercrime in terms of the implications of findings from recent research projects, setting the agenda for future research, and contributing to crime prevention and victim support in cybercrime.

Dr. Hai Thanh Luong
Prof. Dr. Simon Mackenzie
Prof. Dr. Daniel Silverstone
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• identity theft
• romance fraud
• pig-butchering scams
• online sexual threats
• ransomware
• cyberbullying
• online harassment
• phishing attacks
• incident response
• cybercrime legislation