© 2024 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (EHASS) ISSN – Online 2720-7722 | Print 2821-8949 Volume 5 Issue 14 November 2024 pp 2597 – 2612 Available online at: https://noyam.org/journals/ehass/ DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.202451411 Understanding Cybercrime in Developing Economies: Insights from Agona Swedru, Ghana Charles Obeng 1 , Paul Kwasi Kumah 1 , Hubert Bimpeh Asiedu 1 & Felix Awuah Obeng Senior 1 1 Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana. INTRODUCTION In “2011, the UN reported that over 2.3 billion people, more than one-third of the global population, had internet access. 1 More than 60 percent of all internet users resided in developing countries, and 45 percent of these users were under 25 years old. By 2017, mobile broadband subscriptions were projected to reach nearly 70 percent of the world's population. By 2020, the number of networked devices (the 'internet of things') was expected to outnumber people by six to one, fundamentally altering understanding of the internet. In this hyperconnected future, it will be difficult to imagine a 'computer crime' or perhaps any crime that does not involve electronic evidence linked to internet protocol (IP) connectivity. 2 Despite the significant strides made in embracing digital transformation, countries around the globe are being threatened by cyber-attacks. 3 Cybercrime as defined by Anderson and colleagues encompasses traditional, 1 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, “ Comprehensive Study on Cybercrime,” 2013, https://www.unodc.org/documents/organizedcrime/UNODC_CCPCJ_EG.4_2013/CYBERCRIME_STUDY_210213.pdf 2 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, “ Comprehensive Study on Cybercrime.” 3 INTERPOL, “ African Cyberthreat Assessment Report Cyberthreat Trends,” 2023. Correspondence Charles Obeng Email: obengcharles436@gmail.com Publication History Received: 13 th September, 2024 Accepted: 7 th November, 2024 Published online: 28 th November, 2024 ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence and primary causes of cybercrime in Agona Swedru. Using a quantitative research survey and a simple random sampling technique, 397 individuals were surveyed. The study’s data were analyzed using both frequencies, cross tabulation and linear regression. The findings highlight that a significant proportion of the population engages in cybercrime, with online romance scams and financial fraud being the common forms of cybercrime being practiced. Unemployment, financial constraints, and poverty were identified as primary causes, pushing individuals towards cybercrime as a means to achieve financial stability. Based on the findings, it is recommended that enhancing employment opportunities through vocational training and job creation programs can alleviate the strain caused by unemployment. Also, establishing financial aid programs and counseling services can help individuals manage financial pressures. Implementing these recommendations will create a more stable and supportive environment, reducing the factors that drive individuals toward cybercrime. By identifying socioeconomic factors, such as unemployment and poverty, as key drivers of cybercrime, this study enhances understanding of the motivations behind cybercrime in Agona Swedru and similar contexts. Keywords: Cybercrime, Unemployment, Financial Constraint, Poverty ”