Author

Komarov A.A.

Title of article

 Computer fraud in Russia and the USA: analysis of quantitative indicators for 2002-2012

Section

Section 10. Comparative studies and foreign experienc

Issue, year

1 (35) 2016

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to compare statistical indicators of computer fraud dynamics in Russia and the USA. The research was limited to the time frame in the period from 2002 to 2012. There was reliable criminal statistics on this type of crime in this period, followed by the Russian criminal law reform. The crime coefficient for the considered period for two countries was calculated. As a result, by applying data to each other, the graph was made. The peculiarities of statistical crime recording in the RF and the USA, as well as the fact that the number of Internet users in two states at the specified time period was not growing at the same pace were taken into account. Interpretation of the received results has shown that the most characteristic features of the computer fraud in that period were: the dependence of crime on the increase in the number of users; the cost of Internet access; high technology and the professionalism of criminals aimed at the banking sector; changes in the nature of computer fraud related to the technological revolution of broadband Internet access, that questioned the feasibility of such fraudulent schemes as “phreaking” – using Internet services at the expense of others; active commercialization of the Internet services made the implementation of traditional fraudulent schemes more safe and profitable on the Internet. Since 2009 the “overflow” of such crimes in the Internet begins. In these circumstances computer fraud became professional crime. The conclusions and recommendations on combating computer fraud are formulated.

Keywords

criminology; the Internet; fraud; crime dynamics.