Cybercrime on the Rise: Addressing the Public Health Crisis

Internet Security: A Growing Crisis of Cybercrime and its Non-Financial Impact

The Rising Threat of Cybercrime

If you’ve ever been defrauded, you may have found it hard to deal with. The impact of fraud on a victim’s health and well-being can be more painful than the financial losses they suffer. Today, as cybercrime reaches crisis levels, researchers are finding that the non-financial impact of online scams and cons may be even greater. A recent study by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) concluded that scams have grown so pervasive that two-thirds of Americans believe they are at a crisis level.

The scale of cybercrime is evident in the annual reports of financial losses reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime and Complaint Center. The losses broke through the $1 billion mark in 2015 and soared past $10 billion in 2022. However, the true value of the impact of these crimes on victim health and well-being could be even greater. Research conducted in the UK in 2021 using the concept of “subjective well-being” concluded that being a scam victim is associated with significantly lower levels of life satisfaction, lower levels of happiness, higher levels of anxiety, and worse general health.

Addressing the Non-Financial Impact of Cybercrime

The findings of the UK study conducted by the Consumers Association known as Which? are consistent with previous research on the emotional impact of cybercrime. In a pioneering 2015 study by Modic and Anderson, it was demonstrated that the emotional impact of internet fraud is often more severe than the financial impact reported by victims.

The potential payoffs of further research into the non-financial impact of cybercrime are substantial. The findings of the Which? research were used to lobby for increased corporate action to prevent fraud, resulting in the UK Parliament enacting a “failure to prevent fraud offense” to encourage better corporate behaviors. Additionally, an English metropolitan borough used research on the health impacts of fraud to secure funding from the National Health Service for an anti-scam campaign. Through this campaign, they managed to prevent £1 million from being stolen and achieved total savings of £9 million since its inception in 2017.

The Need for Collective Action

In light of the growing crisis of cybercrime and its detrimental impact on individuals’ health and well-being, concerted efforts are necessary to address this issue. Cybercrimes like phishing, fraud, and scams have serious implications for public health policy. Targeted spending on cybercrime prevention and response can be justified as a public health measure.

Nations should actively incorporate measures to reduce digitally enabled crimes against individuals into their population health management policies, strategies, and budgets. Companies and third-sector entities should also play a role by funding, researching, developing, and implementing novel interdisciplinary approaches to reducing cybercrime and alleviating its harm to victims, both financially and non-financially.

As individuals, it is important to be proactive in safeguarding oneself against cybercrime. This includes practicing internet security measures such as utilizing strong and unique passwords, regularly updating software, being cautious of suspicious links and emails, and remaining vigilant against potential scams and fraud attempts.

Overall, the rising threat of cybercrime requires immediate attention and comprehensive action. By addressing its non-financial impact and implementing preventive measures, society can mitigate the harm caused by cybercriminals and protect the well-being of individuals.