| Abstract [eng] |
This thesis explores the experiences of investment fraud among individuals living in Lithuania by analyzing their motivations for investing, the investment process, their emotional experiences, the consequences, the decisions they made, and the reasons for reporting or not reporting the incidents to law enforcement agencies. Investment fraud is one of the rapidly growing, highly damaging, yet extremely under-researched criminal activities on the internet. The analysis of this topic is based on Lithuanian and foreign academic publications, statistical data, routine activity theory, and other theoretical approaches. To achieve this objective, a qualitative methodological approach was employed, and 11 semi-structured interviews were conducted with residents of Lithuania who had encountered investment fraud between 2022 and 2026. The study’s results revealed that investment fraud is a complex, widespread, and multifaceted phenomenon affecting individuals from various social and demographic groups. In order to involve as many people as possible in the fraud and extract as much money as possible from them, various methods are employed in investment fraud, most of which involve manipulation. People who have fallen victim to investment fraud suffer significant financial losses; they often feel shame, stress, and a fear of investing, and they trust others less. Some also feel guilty about the financial losses suffered by their loved ones and are left with debts. The problem of investment fraud is also exacerbated by the prevailing discourse of victim-blaming, people’s distrust of law enforcement agencies, and the resulting underreporting of such crimes. |
