Cybercrime committed by minors: causes, methods, prevention

Introduction. The current stage of societal development is characterised by the widespread use of information technology in all areas of activity. Criminal activity has not been exempt from this process, as its anonymity can now be easily ensured through various technical means. Due to the widespread occurrence of cybercrimes and their often standardised modus operandi, minors are increasingly involved in illegal activities. This poses a threat not only to their ongoing personal maturation and the development of negative social orientations in their minds, but also expands the scope of individuals engaged in criminal conduct causing detrimental effects on the state of society. The author pays particular attention to the reasons why minors commit cybercrimes as well as to the most common methods they use to carry out their criminal activities. The author points out the need for further work concerning criminal schemes in this area, developing proposals for their detection and investigation, and implementing a set of preventative measures. Methods. The preparation of this article involved the application of scientific methods relevant to the research’s purpose, including analysis, generalisation, classification and modelling. Results. The research reveals the current reasons for committing crimes in the field of information and telecommunications technologies by minors. Taking these reasons into account, it is necessary to take a set of measures to prevent unlawful behaviour by this group of citizens. The research also demonstrates the need for further development of methods for investigating this type of criminal activity. The author stresses the importance of a comprehensive set of measures for preventing crimes in question, such as amending legislation, explaining criminal law prohibitions (for debunking the myth of highly professional hackers capable of controlling information technologies or the digital universe), public and parental monitoring of teenagers' activities on social media, etc.