Cybercrimeology

Caught in the Web: Virtual Kidnapping and Digital Scams

Episode Summary

In this episode, Dr. Lennon Chang from Deakin University provides an academic exploration into the mechanisms and implications of virtual kidnapping and online scams. Dr. Chang discusses the sophisticated tactics employed by cybercriminals to exploit victims and the significant challenges in international law enforcement collaboration. He underscores the importance of enhancing public education about scams and the available support systems for victims, providing a personal example to highlighting the limitations of education in preventing scams but how it can aid with recovering. The discussion also ventures into the potential future challenges posed by emerging technologies, offering insights into the evolving landscape of cybercrime prevention and the critical role of academic research in informing policy and practice.

Episode Notes

Notes:

• Dr Chang's background in law and sociology led him to specialize in criminology, particularly cybercrime, after observing its emerging relevance.
• He chose to pursue his PhD in Australia due to scholarship opportunities and the chance to work with a leading cybercrime researcher.
• Dr Chang discusses virtual kidnapping, a scam where victims are manipulated into isolating themselves, enabling scammers to demand ransom from their families.
• He highlights the challenges of combating cybercrime, including jurisdictional issues and the need for international police collaboration.
• Dr Chang emphasizes the importance of public awareness and education to prevent scams, as well as better victim support systems.
• The interview also touches on the role of financial institutions in preventing scams and the potential future threats posed by technologies like AI and ChatGPT in cybercrime.

About our guests:

Dr Lennon Chang

https://www.deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/people/lennon-chang

Papers or resources mentioned in this episode:

1. Chang, L. Y.-C., Zhong, L.-Y., & Grabosky, P. (2020). Virtual Kidnapping: Online Scams with ‘Asian Characteristics’ During the Pandemic. In Crime and Justice in Digital Society (pp. 112-113). ResearchGate. Note: APA format typically requires publisher information, which is not provided in this excerpt.

Other:

The intro an outro was drafted using generative AI. I think it gave a different flavour.