Phishing and Malware Attacks on Online Banking Customers in the Netherlands: A Qualitative Analysis of Factors Leading to Victimization

This paper explores factors that may explain online banking fraud victimization. The routine activity approach and protection motivation theory are used as theoretical lenses for this study. Based on 30 semi-structured interviews with phishing and malware victims, we found that suitable target factors from the routine activity approach have a marginal influence on victimization. About a third of the respondents were aware of the scam that they fell victim to prior to the incident. Most respondents had taken measures to protect themselves against online banking fraud. However, phishing victims... Mehr ...