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Online Messaging as a Cybercrime Prevention Tool in the Post-pandemic Age

Wortley, Richard; Prichard, Jeremy; (2023) Online Messaging as a Cybercrime Prevention Tool in the Post-pandemic Age. In: Smith, Russell and Sarre, Rick and Chang, Lennon and Lau, Laurie, (eds.) Cybercrime in the Pandemic Digital Age and Beyond. (pp. 209-232). Palgrave Macmillan Cham: Switzerland.

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Abstract

Cybercrime poses serious challenges for law enforcement. During the social upheaval witnessed in the years of the coronavirus pandemic, new opportunities for offending emerged. In the post-pandemic world, the traditional criminal justice paradigm of investigation, arrest and prosecution is, in many cases, not fit for purpose. This chapter makes the case for the use of online warning messages as a cybercrime prevention tool. Such messages can be directed at both potential victims to protect them from harm and to potential offenders at the very time they are contemplating an offence. We review the research that established the features of effective warning messages, and the growing body of research that has used warning messages in online settings to dissuade individuals from activities such as visiting malicious websites, disclosing personal information, gambling online, pirating music, attacking computer servers and accessing indecent images of children.

Type: Book chapter
Title: Online Messaging as a Cybercrime Prevention Tool in the Post-pandemic Age
ISBN-13: 9783031291067
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-29107-4_11
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-29107-4_11
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author-accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: COVID-19, Child sexual abuse materials, Online warning messages, Crime prevention, Evaluation
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Security and Crime Science
URI: https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10170551
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