A survey of U.S. and UK residents conducted by Censuswide and commissioned by identity verification vendor Onfido released today said that popular culture – specifically, true-crime shows and movies – are having an outsized effect on the public’s understanding of cybercrime.
Two out of three survey respondents said that shows like Inventing Anna and documentaries like The Tinder Swindler have changed the way they view fraud in the modern day. Almost 60% of respondents also said that they’re cautious about trusting other people online due to cultural depictions of fraud.
Onfido CEO Mike Tuchen said in a press release that such programs have had a major impact on the public’s view of fraud and cybercrime. “True crime and fraud-related entertainment stories have become widespread and popular. This is having a very real impact on how society views and perceives the prevalence and severity of fraud as a crime,” he said. “As a result, consumers are growing increasingly wary of online interactions, amid concerns over fraudster tactics and the security of their identities.”