Criminologists Dr Wytske van der Wagen MSc, Dr Tamar Fischer and Sifra Matthijsse MSc from Erasmus School of Law have conducted research as commissioned by the WODC. In close collaboration with Dr Elina van ’t Zand-Kurtovic from Leiden University, they researched the characteristics of cyber offenders. The research, that was published about in the Friesch Dagblad (Dutch newspaper), found that the characteristics and motives of cyber offenders are highly diverse. Therefore, custom-made interventions are needed to fight cybercrime.
An unrecognisable nerd hiding behind his monitor. That is the stereotypical image of a cyber offender. We speak of cybercrime when both the means and target of a crime are digital. Examples are hacking, DDoS attacks and dissemination of ransomware. Different indications show a rise in cybercrime. However, scientific knowledge about cyber offenders was limited. Therefore, interventions were often too general and not sufficiently effective.
Characteristics and Motives
The research has shown that cyber offenders cannot be viewed as a homogeneous group of perpetrators. On the one hand, they show personality- and psychological characteristics that can also be related to traditional crime such as family issues and downplaying the severity and damage of the crime committed. On the other hand, they show characteristics and motives found to be relatively unique for cyber offenders, such as perfectionism, eagerness to learn, need for recognition and the urge to prove oneself of technical skills but also introversion, social awkwardness and characteristics of an autism spectrum disorder. These characteristics occur in different combinations and to different extents which hinders the formation of effective interventions to fight cyber offenders.
Interventions
To repulse cybercrime, the researchers advise to adjust existing interventions to suit the responsiveness of cyber offenders and take the diversity of this group into account. It can be concluded that one simple approach will not be effective, but custom-made interventions are needed to fight this highly diverse group of offenders. To ensure this more tailored in-depth diagnostics should take place before decisions about (criminal) interventions for cyber offenders are made. The research also shows that young offenders could benefit from interventions focussed on awareness, empathising with others, moral reasoning and offering opportunities.