Social and individual factors of susceptibility to online scams

Abstract

This paper examines the individual factors including psychological, social, and demographic factors in relation to the susceptibility to crime. While most of the cause of crime is analyzed from the perspective of offenders, it is recognized that studies can also focus on the perspective of the victims. Victims are increasing but the society is only explaining its causation. To target prevention, the focus was put on the specific characteristics of potential victims. A quantitative method of a 5-minute survey was conducted and shared with the populations in Hong Kong, especially using a convenience sampling method targeting the Koreans and locals. The sample was obtained from two main types of groups to find out any significant differences between the groups, in the context of Hong Kong. All in all, it was found that most of the demographic factors including age, gender, ethnicity, education level, etc. were significantly correlated to the susceptibility to online scams. Moreover, the high levels in agreeableness and marital status predicted susceptibility to online scams. These findings therefore can bring up new discussion and research for further prevention of online scams.