Why do you think individuals don’t report cybercrime victimization?

I think one of the biggest reasons people don’t report cybercrime is that they don’t always realize what happened to them is a crime. Someone might get their account hacked, receive threats online, or lose money in a scam and decide to handle the situation themselves. They may change their passwords, block the person, or contact their bank without considering making a police report.

Another reason is embarrassment. Some people might feel ashamed about falling for a scam or worry that others will judge them for not recognizing the warning signs. I also think people are less likely to report cybercrime when they believe nothing will be done about it. Since cybercriminals can hide their identities and operate from other countries, victims may feel like reporting the incident would be a waste of time.

Research supports some of these concerns. Fissel (2023) found that many cyberstalking victims did not report their experiences because they did not recognize the behavior as criminal or believed the police would not help. Similarly, van de Weijer et al. (2020) found that the seriousness of a cybercrime can influence whether someone decides to report it.

I believe more people would report cybercrime if they understood the reporting process and knew why it matters. The FBI (2025) encourages victims to report internet crimes even when they have not experienced financial losses. Reporting may not immediately solve someone’s situation, but it can help law enforcement identify criminal activity and investigate similar incidents.

References

Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2025, April 23). FBI releases annual internet crime report. https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/fbi-releases-annual-internet-crime-reportLinks to an external site.

Fissel, E. R. (2023). Is it a crime? Cyberstalking victims’ reasons for not reporting to law enforcement. Social Sciences, 12(12), Article 659. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12120659Links to an external site.

van de Weijer, S., Leukfeldt, R., & van der Zee, S. (2020). Reporting cybercrime victimization: Determinants, motives, and previous experiences. Policing: An International Journal, 43(1), 17–34. https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-07-2019-0122Links to an external site.