Cyber-Crime Victimization through Social Media: An Exploratory Study of Victims in Hyderabad, Pakistan

Abstract

This qualitative exploratory study used data from Hyderabad, Sindh law enforcement authorities. The researcher interviewed 30 cybercrime victims, 14 females and 16 males aged 19-32, and also collected factual records of 349 social media-related cybercrimes. The study's goals were achieved using thematic analysis. The study's goals are to determine which types of cybercrime are committed on social media, which platform is most often used, and the characteristics of cyber victims. According to the findings, the most common social media cybercrimes are investment/financial scams, online job fraud, sending obscene content, harassment, defamation, religious hate content, and identity theft. Moreover, Facebook, WhatsApp, Gmail, TikTok, Messenger, Twitter, and LinkedIn are all popular cybercrime victimization sites. Interviews with cyber victims highlighted the hallmarks of online victimization, including cyber-relationship addiction, wanting attention/popularity, compulsive online purchasing, and gullibility. The accompanying research also offers practical suggestions for preventing social media cyber victimization.