Determinants of Social Media Cybercrime Victimisation Among Young Adults: The Role of Awareness and Security Practices

This research provides a comprehensive overview of how social media scams affect individuals across various age groups, based on a survey of 100 participants. The study identified not only the prevalence of such scams but also offered valuable insights into how victims respond and cope with them. It became evident that scams are not limited to a specific age group, although certain age ranges are disproportionately affected. The 18 to 26 age group was found to be the most vulnerable, with a high percentage of individuals having encountered scams. This vulnerability can be attributed to frequent engagement on social media platforms, a greater tendency to trust online content, and limited experience with cyber safety. Despite being the most affected, individuals in this group reported the lowest rate of filing complaints, indicating a lack of awareness or hesitancy in reporting due to embarrassment or fear of judgment. In the 27 to 32 age group, the victim count was similarly high, with 34% of respondents falling prey to scams. This group showed a slightly improved reporting ratio, but the data still suggested that many individuals suffer in silence. Emotional impacts such as anxiety, guilt, and stress were prominent, with financial loss also being notable in some cases. The findings suggest that individuals in this age group may be lured by scam tactics involving job offers, loans, or investment opportunities, often linked to real-world financial pressures. For the 33 to 38 age group, although the number of victims was slightly lower at 32%, they showed the highest likelihood of reporting the scam. This indicates a maturing awareness of cybercrime and a willingness to take action. Nevertheless, psychological consequences remained significant, pointing to a growing need for emotional support for victims alongside legal or financial solutions.                   In contrast, the 39 to 45 age group displayed the lowest victimization rate, with only 12 individuals out of 100 reporting they had been scammed. This may be due to more cautious behavior or lower exposure to scam-prone online environments. Interestingly, despite the fewer cases, those who did fall victim experienced strong psychological impacts, reinforcing the idea that the emotional toll of scams is not solely dependent on age or frequency but also on the depth of trust breached. Overall, the findings highlight three critical takeaways: first, the psychological effects of scams are generally more severe than the financial losses; second, many victims do not report the incidents, leading to under-representation in official statistics; and third, younger individuals are particularly at risk, making them a priority target for awareness campaigns. There is a clear need for improved cyber education, easily accessible reporting platforms, and supportive resources tailored for each age group. Empowering individuals to recognize scams and respond appropriately could greatly reduce the growing threat of digital fraud.

1.      Duggan, M., & Smith, A. (2016, January 14). The state of privacy in America. Pew Research Center.https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2016/09/21/the-state-of-privacy-in-america/ 2.      Chua, A. Y. K., & Banerjee, S. (2015). Understanding online scams: A literature review. Online Information Review, 39(1), 42–59. https://doi.org/10.1108/OIR-05-2014-0111/ 3.      Whitty, M. T. (2013). The scam baiter: A new type of online vigilantism. Deviant Behavior, 34(1), 1–20.https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2012.707502 4.      Button, M., Johnston, L., & Frimpong, K. (2007). Fighting fraud: The case for a national fraud strategy. Criminal Justice Matters, 68(1), 20–21.https://doi.org/10.1080/09627250708553335 5.      McAlaney, J., & Benson, V. (2019). Cybersecurity and social media: Challenges and trends. In V. Benson & J. McAlaney (Eds.), Cyber influence and cognitive threats (pp. 123–136). Academic Press. 6.      Internet Crime Complaint Center. (2022). Internet crime report 2021. Federal Bureau