Three percent of online buyers and sellers victims of fraud

In 2012, 3 percent of the Dutch population aged 15 years or older reported that they had been a victim of online fraud when buying or selling goods or services online. This is the equivalent of nearly 370 thousand people. Young people and people with intermediate and higher education levels were especially likely to be casualties of fraud when trading online.

More victims among buyers than among sellers

Reported by 2.7 percent of the population, fraud connected with an online purchase – non-delivery of goods or services which have been paid for – is significantly more common than fraudulent sales transactions, where goods or services are delivered but not paid for (0.2 percent).  

Victims of online fraud, 2012

Young online shoppers more likely to be affected

Online shoppers aged between 18 and 35 years were most likely to fall victim to internet fraudsters: just over 4 percent. In the 15-18-year-old group, 3 percent reported bogus transactions. However, if the percentage of online shoppers is taken into account, the risk of online shopping fraud is nearly as high as among the 18-35 year-olds (5 percent). Nearly seven in ten 15-18- year-olds and just over eight in ten 18-35-year-olds buy goods and services online. 
The risk of falling victim to online shopping fraud decreases with the age of the shoppers. This is roughly in line with the percentage of online shoppers per age group.

Online shopping fraud victims, age

Higher risk for secondary and higher educated online shoppers

Internet fraud was reported more by shoppers with secondary or higher education (3.5 percent) than by those with lower education levels (1.5 percent) As people with secondary education are less likely to shop online than those with higher education (75 percent and 85 percent respectively), they run the highest risk of falling victim to an internet scam. People with lower education levels, of whom four in ten buy goods or services online, had the lowest victim rates for online shopping fraud.

Online shopping fraud victims, education level

Elke Moons