Digital Deception: Exploring the Societal Vulnerabilities to Online Scams and Fraud

Abstract

The purposes of this research were: 1) study the digital deception, exploring the social vulnerabilities towards online scams and fraud, and 2) propose a model to solve digital deception and fraud. This is a qualitative study in which an in-depth interview was conducted through 17 key- informants together with a focus group of 7 participants. The obtained data were systematically analyzed by using a content analysis and verified by a triangulation method.
The results revealed that:
1. Digital deception and online fraud comprises of digital knowledge, digital awareness, trust, anxiety and digital reaction, digital deception, peer influence, and social vulnerabilities. The inequality of knowledge and hare-brained were believed to increase the risk of online scam.
2. The model to solve the digital deception and online fraud is CTCDLC where C stands for complaint center, T means tracking the money and arresting the culprit, C means closing the border, D means the development of security system, L means legislation concerning collective responsibility among bank, telecommunication service providers and the victim, and C means creating awareness and preventive measures through public relations and exchanging experiences. This particular study is important guidelines upon the designation of governmental policy as well as the development of preventive measures by the private sector, especially those who provide telephone network services and financial institutions to create a protective shield against online deception concretely and sustainably.