LOW SELF‐CONTROL, ROUTINE ACTIVITIES, AND FRAUD VICTIMIZATION*

TLDR

Recent research combines routine activity/lifestyle frameworks and self‑control theory to explain victimization, but prior tests have focused on offending populations and street crime victimization. The study investigates whether routine activity and self‑control theories also explain nonviolent victimization, such as fraud, in general‑population samples. The authors assess the independent effects of remote purchasing and low self‑control on fraud targeting and victimization. Remote purchasing increases consumers’ risk of being targeted for fraud, while low self‑control does not affect targeting but significantly raises the likelihood of fraud victimization.

Abstract

Recent research has used both routine activity/lifestyle frameworks and self‐control theory to explain victimization. Thus far, combined tests of these theories have focused on offending populations and street crime victimization. Whether these frameworks also explain exposure to and likelihood of nonviolent victimization (e.g., fraud) in general‐population samples remains an open empirical question. Building on prior work, we assess the independent effects of routine consumer activities (i.e., remote purchasing) and low self‐control on the likelihood of fraud targeting and victimization. Using a representative sample of 922 adults from a statewide survey in Florida, the results confirm our expectation that remote‐purchasing activities increase consumers' risk of being targeted for fraud. Low self‐control has no effect on whether consumers are targeted, but it does significantly increase the likelihood of fraud victimization.