2010/08/01 by Travis C. Pratt, Kristy Holtfreter, Michael D. Reisig · 404 citations
Computer Science · Psychology · Social Sciences · #Activity theory #Business #Computer science #Context (archaeology) #Crime Patterns and Interventions #Crime, Illicit Activities, and Governance #Cybercrime and Law Enforcement Studies #Generality #Internet privacy #Legal guardian #Perspective (graphical) #Political science #Psychology #Sample (material) #Situational ethics #Social psychology #The Internet #World Wide Web
paper · doi:10.1177/0022427810365903
published in Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency 47(3), 267-296 (SAGE Publishing)
openalex publication_date 2010/08/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/08
Routine activity theory predicts that changes in legitimate opportunity structures (e.g., technology) can increase the convergence of motivated offenders and suitable targets in the absence of capable guardianship. The Internet has fundamentally changed consumer practices and has simultaneously expanded opportunities for cyber-fraudsters to target online consumers. The authors draw on routine activity theory and consumer behavior research to understand how personal characteristics and online routines increase people’s exposure to motivated offenders. Using a representative sample of 922 adults from a statewide survey in Florida, the results of the regression models are consistent with prior research in that sociodemographic characteristics shape routine online activity (e.g., spending time online and making online purchases). Furthermore, indicators of routine online activity fully mediate the effect of sociodemographic characteristics on the likelihood of being targeted for fraud online. These findings support the routine activity perspective and provide a theoretically informed direction for situational crime prevention in a largely unexplored consumer context.