Fraud : a Hydra emergent in new forms in the Maltese Islands

Abstract

This paper presents a criminological exploration of the shifting fraud landscape, with a particular focus on the Maltese context. Grounded in legal, statistical, and sociological analysis, the study interrogates the evolution of fraud from 2008 to 2024 in terms of main and sub-categories. Drawing upon the Criminal Code of Malta (Articles 293–310C), the framework integrates elements of fraud with a broader societal perspective, employing the PREFET and DIKA models to examine the structural and functional dimensions of fraud. Trends in victimisation from 2008 to 2024 reveal a sharp increase in reported fraud cases, particularly post-2020, indicating both rising prevalence and improved reporting mechanisms. The study reviews victimisation in terms of gender, age, nationality, time and location of reporting. The study concludes with a call for proactive, predictive, and preventive strategies across institutional spheres.