The landscape of cybercrime in Greece

Abstract

Purpose -Cybercrime is a serious threat for most modern societies as it hinders the necessary adoption of information and communication technologies (ICT). This paper seeks to analyze a large number of real cases related to the cybercrime in Greece. Design/methodology/approach -All cases were voluntarily submitted from Greek users, who asked for assistance to a special task force, composed of public sector employees and servants. By analyzing more than 1,000 similar cases, the paper derives a taxonomy of security-related incidents that the Greek users encountered during the past years. Greece only recently embraced broadband technologies and, therefore, this paper is able to observe the corresponding increase of cybercriminal activities.Findings -An analysis of the reports received by the task force indicate a clear shift in the type of reported content. A large number of recent reports from Greek users concern financial fraud schemes and phenomena of cyberbullying and cyber-extortions, activities related primarily to the newly emerged social networking sites. Originality/value -The paper offers insights into cybercrime in Greece via real case studies.

Digital Shadow Economy: a Critical Review of the Literature

“…The previous research on the topic of digital shadow economy is mostly limited with the studies in cybercriminal activities, such as breaking into online banking systems or decryption of PIN codes (Yip, et al, 2012;Holz, et al, 2012), forms of e-fraud (Thomas & Martin, 2006;Yip et al, 2012;Mello, 2013;Vlachos, Minou, Assimakopouos, & Toska, 2011;Amasiatu & Shah, 2014;Zorz, 2015 and others) and the motives of the consumers to get involved in digital piracy (Williams, Nicholas, & Rowlands, 2010;Sirkeci & Magnusdottir, 2011;Camarero, Anton, & Rodriguez, 2014;Amasiatu & Shah, 2014;Vida, Koklic, Kukar-Kinney, & Penz, 2012;Taylor, 2012;Arli, Tjiptono, & Porto, 2015;Yu, Young, & Ju, 2015 and others). However, the scientific literature still lacks of the complex studies in the field of digital shadow economy, which determined the aim of this research -to systematize the scientific literature on digital shadow economy and perform the critical analysis of the researched phenomenon.…”

“…Analysing the landscape of cybercrime in Greece, Vlachos et al (2011) introduced such cybercrime forms as financial frauds (frauds that have financial incentives, from simplistic phishing attacks to pump "n" dump and money mule schemes), children issues (any case of children abuse, including children pornography or paedophilia), spams (unsolicited bulk e-mail that affects the performance of internet users and is related to fraudulent merchandise), breaches of privacy and personal data (all the incidents that are related to privacy issues and personal data, which were intercepted or obtained by electronic devices), technological advanced activities (including utilization of botnets, targeted attacks or custom malware), online games (serving for the stealing of accounts, illegal transfers of virtual money and virtual goods) and technical issues (deliberately caused technical problems related directly to computer or system security). Yip et al (2012) analysed online social networks, better known as carding forums (Holt & Lampke, 2010;Poulsen, 2011).…”

The Definition of Digital Shadow Economy

“…Also, cybercrimes are referred to as offences committed by exploiting networked technology in order to carry out complex and far-reaching tasks that can be repeated countless times globally (Yip et al 2012), robust underground economies that are industrialized by making and delivering the tools for criminal behaviour (Mello 2013) or technologically advanced criminal activities that cause serious threats for consumers, organizations and enterprises as well as for the public sector (e.g. utilization of bonnets, targeted attacks or custom malware) (Vlachos et al 2011). Amasiatu and Shah (2014) invoke the term "faceless crimes", which is explained as fraudulent activities performed engaging IT and the Internet network for illegal business conduct, basically in retail industry.…”

“…Having analysed the topic of e-fraud, Amasiatu and Shah (2014) note that in first party (consumer's) fraud, the trust is breached when a consumer reneges on the contract agreement. According to Vlachos et al (2011), most of e-fraud cases are related to fraudulent transactions, as the users are seeking to purchase consumer goods (expensive clothes, computer and electronics equipment, music and entertainment devices) at discount prices.…”

“…Thus far, the studies on illegal digital activities have covered the analysis of their solitary forms or manifestations, basically cybercrimes (Yip et al 2012;Holz et al 2012;Bossler, Holt 2012), e-fraud (Mello 2013;Vlachos et al 2011;Amasiatu, Shah 2014 and others) and digital piracy (Sirkeci, Magnusdottir 2011;Camarero et al 2014;Taylor 2012;Arli et al 2015;Yu et al 2015 and others). However, the phenomenon of digital shadow economy has never been researched as an entirety, nor its concept has been precisely defined either in national or in international levels.…”