Talk: Examining the Pathways Into Cybercrime, Dr. Rutger Leukfeldt, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR)

Date/Time
Date(s) - 11/07/2023
11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Location
Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Strathclyde


SICSA is pleased to be supporting a talk from Dr Rutger Leukeldt from the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR) at the University of Strathclyde on 11 July 2023

Abstract: Examining the Pathways Into Cybercrime

What are pathways into cybercrime and how does someone become involved in a cybercriminal network? Traditionally, social ties provide access to criminal networks. These involvement mechanisms rely heavily on building trust and are limited to existing ‘real-world’ social contacts such as family, friends and co-workers. ‘Offender convergence settings’ – physical locations such as cafes and bars, where criminals can meet – are used to forge contacts outside an individual’s initial social cluster. Studies into involvement mechanisms of cybercriminal networks are scarce. However, case studies clearly show that the internet provides specific offender convergence settings, such as forums where cybercriminals can meet to exchange information or make plans to commit crimes.

The first part will present the findings of interviews with Dutch hackers about their online and offline pathways into cybercrime, co-offending and desistence. Preliminary results show that the first (baby) steps in pathways into cybercrime include gaming, Google and YouTube. In the second part of this presentation, a discussion of two interventions that are currently utilised to deter starting cybercriminals will be supplied.

Bio: Dr. Rutger Leukfeldt, senior researcher and cybercrime cluster coordinator at the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR) and academic director of the Cybersecurity Research Center of the Hague University of Applied Sciences. Over the last fifteen years, Rutger has published numerous cybercrime studies for the Dutch government and private companies. Examples include studies into the modus operandi and characteristics of cybercriminals, a nation-wide cybercrime victim survey and a study into the organization of Dutch law enforcement agencies responsible for the fight against cybercrime. His PhD-thesis was about the origin and growth processes of cybercriminal networks. In 2015, Rutger received a Marie Curie Individual Fellowship (EU grant for promising researchers) to study the changing organization of organized crime due to the use of Information Technology. In 2017, Rutger received a Veni grant (Dutch grant for highly promising researchers) to carry out a study into the online and offline pathways into cybercriminal networks. Rutger is currently the chair of the Cybercrime Working Group of the European Society of Criminology (ESC) and member of the International Interdisciplinary Research Consortium on Cybercrime (IIRCC).

Refreshments will be provided.  This talk is being organised by Juraj Sikra, University of Strathclyde. Please contact Juraj if you have any questions about the event.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/630831131897.

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