Ecosystem-based framework for organized cybercrime

Abstract

The increasing complexity of organized cybercrime, fueled by rapid technological advancements and global interconnectedness, challenges traditional criminological theories and fragmented policy responses. This study conducts a comprehensive literature review using both systematic and snowballing methods across two databases. From a review of 92 articles, the study identifies: (1) major journal publications in organized cybercrime, (2) major theoretical foundations employed by academic research in organized cybercrime, and (3) significant gaps in current theoretical frameworks and practical interventions, particularly concerning informal governance structures, ideological cohesion, and technological enablers that sustain cybercriminal ecosystems. The study proposes (4) an organized cybercrime ecosystem framework, drawing on criminology, institutional theory, technology adoption models, and socio-technical perspectives, and (5) targeted intervention strategies to disrupt the operational logic of organized cybercrime. Theoretical and managerial implications, along with important limitations and avenues for future empirical research, are discussed at the end of the paper.