Types of Cyber Crimes

Types of Cyber Crimes: Cyber Bullying, Threats, Harassment, and Stalking

Overview of Types of Cyber Crimes: Cyber Bullying, Threats, Harassment, and Stalking in relation to cyber crime: [1]Some experts distinguish between different types of online harassment. For example, it may involve offensive or insulting messages repeatedly sent electronically to a victim. Alternatively, it can involve sending or posting denigrating or inaccurate information about a victim to others with the intent to disrupt friendships or damage their reputation. It may also involve impersonation such as when an offender poses to be a victim online and posts information incurring disrespect or revenge from their friends or associates. Lastly, ”outing” involves electronically spreading very personal information about a victim to others, while ”exclusion” involves deliberately ignoring or refusing to communicate online with a victim (Willard, 2006). This last category can be a form of abuse when a person is repeatedly excluded and made to feel as though he is not fitting in with a popular group. And oftentimes what begins online transcends into classrooms, employment settings, or social functions and leads to property damage and/or physical harm to victims. Conversely, harassment that is initiated offline can also transcend into the cyber world.

Resources

Notes and References

1. By James P. Colt

See Also

• Types of Cybercrime
• Cybercriminal

Further Reading

Belsey, B. (2004). Web site available at (internet link) cyberbullying.ca; Conn, K. (2004). Bullying and harassment: A legal guide for educators. Alexandria, VA: ACSD; Espelage, D., Bosworth, K., & Simon, T. (2000). Examining the social context of bullying behaviors in early adolescence. Journal of Counseling and Development, 78(3), 323–333; Glover, S., & Huffstutter, P. J. (2008, January 9). L.A. grand jury issues subpoenas in web suicide case. The Los Angeles Times. See https://www .latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-myspace9jan09,0,993796.story? coll=la-headlines-pe-california; Li, Q. (2006). Cyber-bullying in schools: A research of gender differences. School Psychology International, 27(2), 157–170; Patchin, J., & Hinduja, S. (2006). Bullies move beyond the schoolyard: A preliminary look at cyberbullying. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 4(2), 148–169; Willard, N. (2006). Cyberbullying and cyberthreats: Responding to the challenge of online social cruelty, threats, and distress. Eugene, OR: Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use; Ybarra, M., & Mitchell, K. (2004). Online aggressors and targets: a comparison of associated youth characteristics. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45(7), 1308–1316; Ybarra, M., Mitchell, K., Wolak, J., & Finkelhor, D. (2006). Examining characteristics and associated distress related to internet harassment: Findings from the second youth Internet survey. Pediatrics, 118(4), 1169–1177.