To discuss the psychology of cybercriminal it’s necessary to define what the term cybercrime means. Cybercrime or computer related crime that involves the computer and a network, the computer may be employed in the commission of a crime against the law or it’s going to be targeted. Cybercrime isn’t about computers: It’s about behaviour. It is important to grasp the psychological mindset of cyber-criminal, so we may consolidate the key insights about human behaviour along with technical solutions. Cyber psychology employed to be considered as emerging discipline within behavioural sciences. Cyber psychologist studies the impact of emerging technology on human behaviour. If we predict about the word hacking in terms of motive, without a doubt hacking may be a skill set. Somehow the word hacking become an abusive and harmful term but if we glance back in 80s or 90 centuries it considered as impressive skill set. But in these times hacking is completely perceived as being negative. Observing the psychology behind hacking through perspective of behavioural sciences, humanitarian understanding to hacking would enlighten an emotion like revenge, anger. Many cybercriminals have same modus operandi, like in phishing ransomware they are trying to convince the victim to give something – new car offer, lottery schemes, increasing master card value. There are many reasons behind technologically intelligent person to become a cyber-criminal, scary childhood experiences, mentally stressor, financial problem, these all factors that will cause an individual to feel deeply needy and build opportunities. It’s all up to hacker, it can be financial gain, to wreck someone assets simply because they will be proving a degree.  The psychology of cyber criminals may be explained through a mixture of theoretical perspective, indeed theories like Routine Activity Theory, and Social Learning Theory.

Routine Activity Theory (RAT)

Routine activity theory makes a connection between crime and its environment and lays stress on its ecological process. According to the Routine activity theory, the three major factors of victimization are the presence of motivated offender, availability of suitable target and lack of capable guardian. In 1979, Marcus Felson and Lawrence E. Cohen tested that explanation for changes in crimes through empirical evaluation of their principle postulates. So as to verify that the dispersion of activities far away from home and family could increase the probabilities of becoming the acceptable  target and diminish the presence of capable guardian, to verify that suitability of targets influenced mediatory contacts which solitary life far away from the family environment could raise victimisation rates and at last to do to verify that rise in crime was associated to changes in structure of  daily activities in life.

Social Learning Theory (SLT)

Social learning theory is learning through observations. There is various study which reflects the cybercrime learned from peer groups In Social Learning theory explaining the relationship between peer social influences and chances of committing crime like cyber harassment.

Case Study

Phishing calls is increasing day-by-day and it is basically originating from local villages. Recently, an internet series JAMTARA, (Jamtara is a district of Jharkhand state) shows how they portray themselves as bank employee, this breed of young fraud would use various tricks to fool their victim across country. They started conversation like this “Sir, you utilize an ATM Card, and you get a message two days ago that it had been blocked?’’ Every day they make uncountable calls from their village Jamtara. By doing these quite phishing calls from time to time would make off with as high Rs. 2-3 lacs in a very day.

References

1)     https://blog.avast.com/psychology-of-cybercrime (Access 14:04:2020)

2)     http://www.cambridgeblog.org/2013/09/forensic-psychology-vs-cybercriminals/ (Access 14:04:2020)

Author- Sumit Mishra, Legal Intern (2020)

Sumit Mishra, Born on 09 Aug 1995, at Bihar, India. He has completed B.Sc. (Hons.) Forensic Science from Galgotias University, Greater Noida, U.P. He is pursuing M.Sc. Forensic Science from Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi.  He has done training in Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CBI), New Delhi in Physics Division and Photo Division. He has participated in National & International Conferences & Workshops.