Risky remote purchasing and identity theft victimization among older Internet users

Abstract

The low self-control/risky lifestyles perspective posits that people deficient in self-control engage in certain risky behaviors that increase their exposure to motivated offenders in the absence of capable guardianship, which in turn elevates their risk of victimization. Using survey data from telephone interviews conducted in Florida and Arizona with individuals aged 60 and over, the current study tests whether this theoretical framework partially explains risky remote purchasing and identity theft victimization among older Internet users. Results from the two-stage probit models conform to expectations: Individuals with lower levels of self-control have a significantly higher probability of making a purchase after receiving an unsolicited email from a vendor with whom they have not previously done business. What is more, making a risky remote purchase significantly increases the probability of identity theft victimization. The findings not only speak to the generality of the low self-control/risky lifestyles perspective, but also indicate that older Internet users can reduce their victimization risk by taking specific precautions.

Keywords:

• identity theft
• lifestyle theory
• remote purchasing
• self-control
• victimization

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. The NCVS also includes ‘unauthorized use or attempted use of an existing account, such as a credit or debit card, checking, savings, telephone, online, or insurance account’ in their definition of identity theft. However, there is debate as to whether this type of criminal activity – considered by some to be credit card fraud – is actually identity theft (see, e.g., Copes & Vieraitis, 2009).

2. It is instructive to note that when the censored sample (n = 1390) is used to estimate identity theft victimization models using data-analytic techniques that do not account for sample selection (i.e., traditional logistic and probit regression models), larger z tests are observed indicating slightly less attenuation in the low self-control effect. Distorted test statistics are expected when sample selection bias is present and not effectively corrected. This evidence provides further justification for using the two-stage probit model.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported in part by Award No. 2010-IJ-CX-0008, awarded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice.