Structure of Cybercrime in Developing Economies

Abstract

Cybercrime’s footprints across the developing world are getting bigger. In this paper, we examine the structure of cybercrimes in developing economies. Specifically, we analyze economic and institutional factors facing cyber-criminals and potential victims in the developing world. The findings indicate that formal institutions related to cybercrimes are thin and dysfunctional in a developing economy; a cyber-criminal is less likely to be stigmatized in a developing economy than in a developed economy; and organizations’ and individuals’ technological and behavioral defense mechanisms are likely to be weaker in a developing economy than in a developed economy.