’17 percent of Dutch people became a victim of online crime in 2021′

In 2021, 2.5 million people, 17 percent of the Dutch population over the age of 15, say they became victims of online crime. That will be revealed on Tuesday Numbers from the 2021 Security Monitor of Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Only one in five of the victims reports this type of crime, less than half reports it.

More than 1.5 million Dutch people became victims of fraud and fraud via the internet. This often involved so-called purchase fraud, which means that products purchased online were not delivered. Seven percent were hacked in the previous year. Two percent experienced online threats and intimidation, in the form of bullying or stalking, for example. More than half of the people who are victims of this type of crime say that they have suffered psychological problems as a result.

Two in three people over the age of 15 say they received a call, email or other message at least once in 2021 that probably came from a scammer. Two percent say they agreed. About 100,000 people, less than one percent of the people who completed the Security Monitor, have lost money because of these types of phishing messages.

Although online crime is more common in the Netherlands, traditional forms of crime such as theft, violence and vandalism are declining. Statistics Netherlands figures show that between 2012 and 2021, the number of people who claim to be victims of traditional crime fell by more than 40 percent. In that period, online crime actually increased, with 22 percent more victims.