Investigating Vulnerability and Reporting Behavior for Consumer Fraud Victimization: Opportunity as a Social Aspect of Age

• NCJ Number: 191990
• Journal: Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 17 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2001 Pages: 328-345
• Author(s): Judy Van Wyck; Karen A. Mason
• Date Published: November 2001
• Length: 18 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined vulnerability and reporting behavior related to victimization by consumer fraud.

Abstract

The analysis predicted that people who socialize more often have an increased likelihood of victimization, because socialization may increase the amount of contact with other people. The research also predicted that greater levels of socialization would increase the likelihood of official reporting behavior for consumer fraud victimization because victims may depend on others for guidance in official reporting. The research collected data from 400 randomly selected residents of Knox County (TN) in the spring of 1994 via a telephone survey. The survey asked whether anyone had tried to victimize them through any of 13 specific consumer fraud methods in the past 5 years. The study measured both attempted and successful victimization. The survey also gathered information on risk-taking behavior and socialization, which were two theoretical variables predicting consumer fraud victimization. Results revealed that 227 participants reported at least 1 attempted fraud in the 5 years prior to the interview. One hundred four said that the attempt was successful. Younger people were more likely than older people to experience consumer fraud victimization attempts. Results indicated support for the first prediction, but not the second. Socialization did increase the likelihood of victimization, but it had no effect on official reporting behavior. Findings aided understanding of the disparity between self-reports and official reports of victimization by consumer fraud. The analysis concluded that age was the most significant predictor of victimization by consumer fraud, and that further research should attempt to determine whether chronological or social aspects of age more significantly impact this likelihood. However, socialization and risk-taking behavior contribute little to the overall ability of age to predict consumer fraud victimization. Tables and 18 references (Author abstract modified)