Science
Conference

CRIMINOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CYBER FRAUD AND THE LEGAL MECHANISMS FOR ITS PREVENTION

Avazbek Sayfiddinov

Tashkent State University of Law
Science-Conference.com
Volume: 4
Issue: 1
Date: January 29, 2026

Abstract

This article analyzes the criminological characteristics of cyber fraud in the context of the rapid development of digital technologies, the methods by which it is committed, the specific characteristics of offenders and victims, as well as the legal and organizational mechanisms for preventing such crimes. The criminal-law foundations of cyber fraud in the Republic of Uzbekistan, in particular Article 168 of the Criminal Code and the provisions of the Law “On Cybersecurity,” are examined from a comparative legal perspective. In addition, the European Union’s strong customer authentication mechanism, the United Kingdom’s mechanism for reimbursing victims of fraud, and international cooperation standards under the Budapest Convention are compared with the practice of Uzbekistan. The study substantiates that an approach based solely on punishment is insufficient for combating cyber fraud and emphasizes the need to strengthen mechanisms for rapid information exchange among banks, telecommunications operators, law enforcement agencies, payment organizations, and digital platforms, as well as mechanisms for the immediate blocking and recovery of victims’ funds.

Keywords

cyber fraud, cybercrime, criminological characteristics, phishing, social engineering, bank cards, digital evidence, cybersecurity, prevention, electronic payments, international cooperation.

References

Council of Europe. (2001). Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention), ETS No. 185. https://www.coe.int/en/web/cybercrime/convention-on-cybercrime 2. Council of Europe. (2022). Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime on Enhanced Co-operation and Disclosure of Electronic Evidence (CETS No. 224). 3. Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Art. 168 (Fraud). 4. Cybersecurity Center under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan. (2024). Data on the structure of cybercrime. 5. Directive (EU) 2015/2366 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on payment services in the internal market (PSD2), Art. 97. 6. European Banking Authority & European Central Bank. (2025, December 15). Joint EBA-ECB report on payment fraud. 7. Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. O’RQ-764. (2022, April 15). On Cybersecurity. 8. Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan. (2024). Statistics on the dynamics of cybercrime, 2019–2024. https://gov.uz/oz/iiv/news/view/52319 9. Payment Services Regulations 2024 (UK), Explanatory Memorandum. 10. Payment Systems Regulator (United Kingdom). (2025). Annual report and accounts 2024/25. 11. President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. (2026, March 12). Combating organized crime and cybercrime to be strengthened. https://president.uz/oz/lists/view/9009