Cyber Victimization

Professor Cybercrime victimization defies the logic of physical proximity. Unlike physical space crimes, cybercrime offenders need not be physically proximate with their victims. An offender can victimize any person across the globe, sitting in any corner of the world, using a computer connected to a network. In addition, as cybercrime is an “automated crime” (using technology to multiply the number of “crimes” someone can commit in a given period of time), several persons can be victimized with the same effort. This innovative nature of automation enables the offenders to victimize many in rapid and precise manner. Hence, the victimology of cybercrimes is distinct in its character, compared to the victimology of conventional crimes. As it is common with the public to think that cybercrime means only hacking, it is to be noted that, barring few, most scholars are of the opinion that cybercrime victimization equals to cyber bullying/cyber stalking victimization. A Google Scholar search will also make this clearly evident. In a search for the topic of cyber victims or cyber victimization in Google Scholar, studies show most sites deal with cyber bullying and cyber stalking/harassment. Victimization is nothing but the other side of the coin. It is like viewing from the other side of the river. Also it is found that, whenever cyber victimization is analyzed, it is examined from only an individual perspective and not from a mass or system perspective. Victims of cybercrime can be not only individuals, but also governments, corporations, and society. Hence, cyber victimization can be classified as cyber victimization of (1) governments, (2) corporations, and (3) individuals, as well as (4) victimless crimes.