'Bought it, but Never Got it' Assessing Risk Factors for Online Consumer Fraud Victimization

Abstract

Consumer fraud seems to be widespread, yet little research is devoted to understanding why certain social groups are more vulnerable to this type of victimization than others. This article deals with Internet consumer fraud victimization, and uses an explanatory model that combines insights from self-control theory and routine activity theory. The results from large-scale victimization survey data among the Dutch general population (N = 6,201) reveal that people with low self-control run substantially higher victimization risk, as well as active online shoppers and people participating in online forums. Though a share of the link between low self-control and victimization is indirect—because impulsive people are more involved in risk enhancing online routine activities—a large direct effect remains. This suggests that, within similar situations, people with low self-control respond differently to deceptive online commercial offers.

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