Fraud is defined by the use of deception to obtain a financial advantage. This is usually in the form of direct money transfers, but can also be achieved through gaining personal credentials in order to commit identity crimes. In Australia, victims reported over AUD$2.7 billion lost to various fraudulent approaches in 2023 (ACCC, 2024). Given the known under-reporting of fraud (thought to be routinely less than one third), these figures are likely to grossly underestimate the actual losses of fraud. Further, this figure does not capture the range of non-financial harms associated with victimisation (Button and Cross, 2017).
The internet, through its increased connectivity, has exponentially increased the opportunities for offenders to target potential victims. Geographical location is no longer a protective factor to guard against fraud. Further, existing fraud research conceptualises geographical location only in terms of jurisdiction (state or country) which therefore renders any differences between urban and rural victims invisible (Cross, 2020). It is important to understand how fraud and deception operate in a rural context, to understand what fraudulent approaches are targeted at both individuals and communities, how victims experience these incidents, and what occurs in the aftermath of fraud victimisation. Current research provides insight into these factors, however this is based on a primarily urban perspective. There is limited research to account for any differences (both positive and negative) in fraud in a rural context.
This project seeks to document what is currently known about fraud in a rural context, through examining how online media portray fraud in a rural context. It will focus on coverage of both the types of fraud perpetrated and the profile of victims who are targeted. Current research renders the urban/rural divide invisible, focusing only on jurisdiction as a geographical indicator (Cross, 2020). This scoping study will employ a content analysis of online media articles from a range of traditional (such as ABC online) and non-traditional media outlets (including popular blog sites). The results of the analysis will provide a baseline for identifying what knowledge underpins current narratives, and highlight what gaps or challenges exist for further research to explore.
This project aligns with the C4J priorities in several ways. It focuses on place and explores how online technologies have changed the way that fraud is perpetrated and therefore increased ways in which rural communities can be targeted. It further focuses on technologies, with a focus on how digital platforms and the rise of artificial intelligence, can be leveraged to target potential victims. It also draws from gendered justice, in examining gender differences in victimisation and media portrayals of fraud.
Project team
- Professor Cassandra Cross
- Associate Professor Christina Malatzky
- Professor Deanna Grant-Smith (University of the Sunshine Coast)
- Dr Sarah Casey (University of the Sunshine Coast)
