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postgraduate thesis: How second-hand trading platforms facilitate online fraud : a case study of China's largest second-hand marketplace
Title | How second-hand trading platforms facilitate online fraud : a case study of China's largest second-hand marketplace |
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Authors | |
Issue Date | 2024 |
Publisher | The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) |
Citation | Chen, Z. [陳卓立], Guo, S. [郭顺安], Mo, Z. [莫宗霖]. (2024). How second-hand trading platforms facilitate online fraud : a case study of China's largest second-hand marketplace. (Thesis). University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR. |
Abstract | This dissertation explores the facilitation of online fraud through China's largest second-hand trading platform, Xianyu, providing a comprehensive analysis of the underlying mechanisms and potential solutions. With the rapid expansion of consumer-to-consumer (C2C) platforms, second-hand markets like Xianyu have seen explosive growth but also increased opportunities for fraudulent activities. The study employs Transaction Cost Theory and Social Network Theory to dissect the dynamics of transaction costs, information asymmetry, and social relationships influencing transaction security on Xianyu. Through thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with users who have experienced fraud, the research identifies prevalent fraudulent tactics such as false product descriptions and exploitation of platform rules. The study also examines the effectiveness of existing platform safeguards and user strategies against fraud. The findings underscore the critical role of platform design, user behavior, and regulatory frameworks in both enabling and combating online fraud. Also, the final research results indicate that online second-hand trading platforms exacerbate information asymmetry. The speculative behavior of sellers with information advantages results in increased transaction costs for buyers. Furthermore, the information disadvantage results in a tendency for buyers to engage in adverse selection, which ultimately leads to a lack of market demand for high-quality second-hand goods. Furthermore, the Countersignaling theory's assumptions were found to be valid in fraudulent behavior on online second-hand trading platforms. Sellers with high quality and high reputations are unlikely to send signals to demonstrate their own high quality, which hinders the effectiveness of the reputation evaluation system established by the platform. Consequently, the so-called high-quality signals are challenging to become a reference for buyers and sellers.This study contributes to the understanding of online fraud in second-hand markets and offers theoretical and practical insights for enhancing transaction security and trust in digital marketplaces.
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Degree | Master of Social Sciences |
Subject | Internet fraud - China - Hong Kong Electronic commerce - China - Hong Kong |
Dept/Program | Criminology |
Persistent Identifier | http://hdl.handle.net/10722/352837 |
DC Field | Value | Language |
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dc.contributor.author | Chen, Zhuoli | - |
dc.contributor.author | 陳卓立 | - |
dc.contributor.author | Guo, Shunan | - |
dc.contributor.author | 郭顺安 | - |
dc.contributor.author | Mo, Zonglin | - |
dc.contributor.author | 莫宗霖 | - |
dc.date.accessioned | 2025-01-08T06:46:33Z | - |
dc.date.available | 2025-01-08T06:46:33Z | - |
dc.date.issued | 2024 | - |
dc.identifier.citation | Chen, Z. [陳卓立], Guo, S. [郭顺安], Mo, Z. [莫宗霖]. (2024). How second-hand trading platforms facilitate online fraud : a case study of China's largest second-hand marketplace. (Thesis). University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR. | - |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10722/352837 | - |
dc.description.abstract | This dissertation explores the facilitation of online fraud through China's largest second-hand trading platform, Xianyu, providing a comprehensive analysis of the underlying mechanisms and potential solutions. With the rapid expansion of consumer-to-consumer (C2C) platforms, second-hand markets like Xianyu have seen explosive growth but also increased opportunities for fraudulent activities. The study employs Transaction Cost Theory and Social Network Theory to dissect the dynamics of transaction costs, information asymmetry, and social relationships influencing transaction security on Xianyu. Through thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with users who have experienced fraud, the research identifies prevalent fraudulent tactics such as false product descriptions and exploitation of platform rules. The study also examines the effectiveness of existing platform safeguards and user strategies against fraud. The findings underscore the critical role of platform design, user behavior, and regulatory frameworks in both enabling and combating online fraud. Also, the final research results indicate that online second-hand trading platforms exacerbate information asymmetry. The speculative behavior of sellers with information advantages results in increased transaction costs for buyers. Furthermore, the information disadvantage results in a tendency for buyers to engage in adverse selection, which ultimately leads to a lack of market demand for high-quality second-hand goods. Furthermore, the Countersignaling theory's assumptions were found to be valid in fraudulent behavior on online second-hand trading platforms. Sellers with high quality and high reputations are unlikely to send signals to demonstrate their own high quality, which hinders the effectiveness of the reputation evaluation system established by the platform. Consequently, the so-called high-quality signals are challenging to become a reference for buyers and sellers.This study contributes to the understanding of online fraud in second-hand markets and offers theoretical and practical insights for enhancing transaction security and trust in digital marketplaces. | - |
dc.language | eng | - |
dc.publisher | The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) | - |
dc.relation.ispartof | HKU Theses Online (HKUTO) | - |
dc.rights | The author retains all proprietary rights, (such as patent rights) and the right to use in future works. | - |
dc.rights | This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. | - |
dc.subject.lcsh | Internet fraud - China - Hong Kong | - |
dc.subject.lcsh | Electronic commerce - China - Hong Kong | - |
dc.title | How second-hand trading platforms facilitate online fraud : a case study of China's largest second-hand marketplace | - |
dc.type | PG_Thesis | - |
dc.description.thesisname | Master of Social Sciences | - |
dc.description.thesislevel | Master | - |
dc.description.thesisdiscipline | Criminology | - |
dc.description.nature | published_or_final_version | - |
dc.date.hkucongregation | 2024 | - |
dc.identifier.mmsid | 991044890309103414 | - |