Conversations with deviant website developers: a case study of online shopping fraud enablers

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dc.contributor.authorLazarus, Suleman
dc.contributor.authorWhittaker, Jack M
dc.contributor.authorMcGuire, Michael R
dc.date.accessioned2025-12-09T07:44:13Z
dc.date.available2025-12-09T07:44:13Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractThis study explores the experiences and challenges faced by Cameroonian website developers involved in creating non-delivery fraud websites. Through semi-structured interviews with 14 developers, four key themes were identified: (1) the psychological impact of the Ambazonian crisis, including heightened stress and anxiety due to ongoing civil conflict; (2) infrastructure disruptions, such as frequent power outages and Internet blackouts, which hinder their work and increase operational risks; (3) the influence of spiritual beliefs on decision-making, where concerns about offending ancestral spirits deter developers from direct fraud involvement; and (4) cultural perceptions of cybercrime, particularly the glorification of the “Big Boy” image, which normalises fraudulent activities as symbols of success. The study suggests that redirecting these developers’ skills towards legitimate tech employment opportunities in Cameroon and internationally could help reduce cyber deviance and contribute to economic growth in affected regions.
dc.identifier.citationWhittaker, J.M., McGuire, M.R. and Lazarus, S., 2025. Conversations with deviant website developers: A case study of online shopping fraud enablers. Journal of Criminology, p.26338076251321844.
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1177/26338076251321844
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10566/21543
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSAGE Publications Ltd
dc.subjectcrime enablers
dc.subjectcyber deviance
dc.subjectnon-delivery fraud
dc.subjectOnline fraud
dc.subjectpet scams
dc.titleConversations with deviant website developers: a case study of online shopping fraud enablers
dc.typeArticle

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