Percentage change 2006‐2011 top five global risks in the Figure 1.8: Socio‐economic changes and frequency of internet use in year 2012.47 Gallup polling one Eastern European country 2006‐2011 Frequency of data from 2011 reveal that, 120 internet use globally, people perceive Internet 100 users their living standards to be 80 falling – a discontent Unemployment exacerbated by stark 60 Unemployment rate At risk rate, 48 income disparities. aged <25yrs GINI university of poverty, 40 (income educated aged 18‐24 UNODC research shows inequality) 20 coefficient that economic factors play 0 an important role in the evolution of crime trends. ‐20 Out of a total of 15 ‐40 countries examined, Real GDP ‐60 statistical modelling per capita, growth rate suggested some overall Source: Eurostat and ITU World Telecommunication ICT Indicators 2012 association between economic changes and three conventional crime types in 12 countries.49 Socio-economic factors may also play an important role in increases in cybercrime. Pressure on private sector enterprises to cut spending and to reduce staffing levels can lead, for example, to reductions in security, and to opportunities for exploitation of ICT weaknesses.50 As firms are forced to hire in outside or temporary contractors, or employees become disgruntled by lower wages and fear of job loss, the risk both of lone criminal actions and influence by organized criminal groups over company ‘insiders’ may increase.51 Some cybersecurity companies have expressed concern that former employees who have been made redundant pose one a possible threat during periods of economic downturn.52 Increasingly large numbers of unemployed or underemployed graduate students with computing skills have also been reported to offer potential new resources for organized crime.53 The role of socio-economic factors in cybercrime is not limited to the developed world. Rather, it is equally applicable in the developing country context. In one country in Western Africa, for example, studies on the socio-demographic characteristics of yahooboys54 show that many are university students who view online fraud as a means of economic sustenance.55 Unemployment, in particular, is identified as a crucial factor luring youths to yahooboyism.56 Studies in another country in Africa similarly highlight that ‘Sakawa’ boys engaged in internet fraud frequently justify their 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 World Economic Forum, 2012. Global Risk Report 2012. Ibid, citing Credit Suisse Research Institute, 2011. Global Wealth Report 2011. UNODC, 2011. Monitoring the Impact of Economic Crisis on Crime. BAE Systems Detica and John Grieve Centre for Policing and Security, London Metropolitan University, 2012. Organised Crime in the Digital Age. Ibid. McAfee, 2009. Unsecured Economies: Protecting Vital Information. BAE Systems Detica and John Grieve Centre for Policing and Security, London Metropolitan University, 2012. Organised Crime in the Digital Age. The sub-culture of ‘yahooboys’ describes youths, especially those living in cities, who make use of the internet for acts of computerrelated fraud, phishing and scamming. Adeniran, A.I., 2011. Café Culture and Heresy of Yahooboyism. In: Jaishankar, K., (ed.) Cyber Criminology: Exploring Internet Crimes and Criminal Behaviour. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group. Adeniran, A.I., 2008. The Internet and Emergence of Yahooboys sub-Culture. International Journal of Cyber Criminology, 2 (2):368-381; and Aransiola, J.O., Asindemade, S.O., 2011. Understanding Cybercrime Perpetrators and the Strategies They Employ. Cyberpsychology, Behaviour and Social Networking, 14(12):759. Ibid. 10