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Pyramid schemes create an unusual situation, where the victims might be effectively turned into offenders, as their role is to recruit more victims to the pyramid scheme. This paper aims to investigate the prevalence of pyramid schemes, their modern forms and why people join them.

This paper has developed from a structured literature review carried out as part of a wider study into policing pyramid schemes.

This paper identifies a range of reasons why people join pyramid schemes. Some of these reasons are “participant dominant”, including the vision of high reward for little work and the attraction to a better lifestyle. Other reasons are “organiser dominant”, including the exploitation of specific groups and high-pressure sales. These findings suggest significant differences in levels of culpability of pyramid schemes victims and perpetrators. This complexity is accompanied by conceptual, regulatory and institutional challenges.

Despite the profound and pervasive impact of pyramid schemes, researchers know very little about why some people participate in pyramid schemes. Limited research is largely American and specific to illegal multi-level marketing schemes. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to provide an overview of a mix of strategies of participants of pyramid schemes to recruit new victims and reasons why people are joining pyramid schemes.

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of literature on policing money laundering to evaluate the quality of evidence presented in academic and grey literature. In doing so, this paper reflects upon what strategies and mechanisms work in preventing, detecting and disrupting money laundering.

To investigate the quality of evidence presented in academic and grey literature on money laundering, the authors have conducted a structured literature review of over 1,000 sources. The authors have then evaluated the quality of evidence of these sources by using three distinct methods, namely, the Maryland scale, research excellence framework and quality of empirical evidence framework.

This paper finds a large number of studies on money laundering meeting the highest academic quality standard. However, only a very small number of those studies include empirical evidence that policing measures actually work with no study able to demonstrate a correlation between money laundering measures and risk factors at any point in time.

This paper provides practical and theoretical insights into what works in money laundering and the role of scientific evaluations. It is particularly relevant for the successful implementation of anti-money laundering policy measures, including, for example, the UK’s Economic Crime Plan 2023–2026, which aspires to measure the progress and impact of policing in this area.

The digital medium has created new ways of contracting through web pages and smartphone apps. The websites and apps put numerous terms of contract. In some cases, the user is required to click on them, and other times, the user may or may not even notice the terms. Are the terms put by the sites and apps binding? The case explores the theme with the Uber Case, a judgement of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, on the application of the terms in the Uber app.

By increasing the digitalization of commercial services citizens' expect more from public services. First of all, this study will strive to identify which problems citizens encounter when they use a complex public service: preparation of an application for a building permit. In the light of the popularity of omnichannel approaches, the study then explores how omni-channel could help to address the problems which have been identified.

We implement the first phases of an action design science research project. We collect data both from citizens and public agencies and frame them as transparency problems. These abstract problems are then addressed by an omnichannel service provision as an abstract solution. The abstract solution is then instantiated in a design in the form of a user scenario developed in collaboration with current and future public officials.

The analysis uncovers multiple transparency issues: it distinguishes between process, case, language, cross-channel and cost transparency. One root cause of the transparency issues observed is the lack of service transparency which defines the purpose and scope of a ser-vice. We therefore recommend defining a service-strategy before informational and technical aspects of an omnichannel approach can be implemented. Following this strategy, omnichannel offers public administrations unique opportunities to excel in citizens' service provision.

The study provides insights into how citizens view complex public services. For researchers, this study offers the conceptualization as transparency issues. Practitioners from the public administrations can also benefit from the concept and vision of omnichannel public services.

Emerging literature on fintech has shown that consumers have been slow to adopt fintech-based products and services. However, limited literature is available regarding the factors associated with consumers' adoption of these products and services. This study aims to investigate the factors that are associated with consumer adoption of fintech-based products and services.

Data on the usage and perception of smartphone financial apps by US residents ages 18–70 was collected in the fall of 2020. Based on the Extended Post-Acceptance Model (EPAM) framework, Structural Equation Modeling and Confirmatory Factor Analysis were applied to inspect how financial capability, perceived security and perceived usefulness affect fintech adoption.

Fintech proficiency, investment risk tolerance and perceived safety are positively associated with the frequency of fintech application use upon adoption. Consumers are more likely to feel safer if they are more financially capable and technologically proficient. Consumers with higher risk tolerance tend to believe fintech apps are safe to use. Consumers with higher fintech proficiency are more likely to recognize the usefulness of fintech services.

The study introduces a revised EPAM framework with antecedent factors, fintech proficiency and risk tolerance to investigate the factors associated with consumer adoption of fintech-based products and services. The key findings of this study validate the EPAM in the American context. Additionally, this research is among the first to have confirmed the direct relationship between perceived security and fintech adoption. The results have practical implications for existing fintech companies, banks and financial institutions, policymakers and financial advisory practices considering adopting fintech-based services for their clients.

Since its inception, virtual reality (VR) technologies have been widely applied in the tourism industry, given their competitive advantages in offering users a novel experience that makes an artificial environment or scene feel like the real world. As a result, VR has been reported as a highly sought-after technology, as it can offer a new way to engage tourists and enhance their travel experience. However, the adoption of VR by senior tourists (who are one of the potential groups of tourists) is still relatively low in the tourism context. Against this backdrop, this study aims to respond to the deficiency in the literature by examining the impact of barriers that contribute to senior tourists’ resistance and scepticism towards VR in tourism.

Using a cross-sectional approach, the data for this study was collected from 600 eligible senior tourists through survey questionnaires. To obtain valid and reliable responses, a purposive sampling technique with screening criteria was undertaken in this study. Upon data cleaning, the data analysis was performed on 546 samples using statistical software packages such as SPSS and the AMOS covariance-based structural equation modelling technique.

Grounded on the innovation resistance theory, the outcome of this study put forward the significance of technical and psychological barriers in explaining senior tourists’ resistance and scepticism towards the use of VR in tourism. In particular, perceived risk, perceived incompatibility, technology anxiety, inertia and a lack of human interaction were found to be associated with senior tourists’ scepticism and resistance towards VR usage in tourism. However, perceived complexity was not found to have a significant relationship with resistance. Moreover, both scepticism and resistance were reported to influence non-adoption intentions on VR.

This study is one of the few studies that examined the less explored territory of the tourism literature concerning the non-adoption of contemporary innovation (i.e. VR technology) for virtual tourism purposes. Moreover, this study also focuses on the perspective of senior tourists, which represents a promising market segment in the tourism sector. This study successfully contributed to the existing literature by offering empirical insights and highlighting the barriers that lead to users’ scepticism and resistance towards using VR for tourism, which could directly influence their non-adoption intention and the success of virtual tourism.

自问世以来, 虚拟现实 (VR) 技术已在旅游业中得到广泛应用因为它在为用户提供新颖体验方面具有竞争优势, 使人工环境或场景感觉像真实世界。由于VR可以提供一种新的方式来吸引游客并提升他们的旅行体验, 它被视为一项备受追捧的科技。然而, 在旅游背景下, 老年游客（潜在游客群体之一）对 VR 的采用率仍然较低。在此背景下, 本研究旨在通过探究导致老年游客对VR旅游应用产生抵制和怀疑的原因来回应文献中的不足。

基于横断面方法, 本研究通过调查问卷从600名符合条件的老年游客中收集了数据。为了获得有效和可靠的答复, 本研究采用了具有筛选标准的目的抽样技术。数据清理后, 本研究使用SPSS等统计软件包和基于AMOS协方差的结构方程建模技术对546个样本进行了数据分析。

基于创新阻力理论, 本研究结果提出了技术和心理障碍在解释老年游客对VR旅游应用抵制和怀疑的重要性。具体而言, 感知风险、感知不相容性、技术焦虑、惰性和缺乏人际互动被发现与老年游客对VR旅游应用抵制和怀疑有关。然而, 本研究并未发现感知复杂性与VR旅游应用抵制有显着关系。此外, 怀疑和抵制都会影响 VR 的不采用意图。

此研究是为数不多探索了旅游文献中关于未将当代创新（即VR技术）用于旅游目的研究。此外, 这项研究侧重于老年游客（作为旅游业中一个有前景的细分市场）的视角。本研究成功地为现有文献做出了贡献, 提供了实证见解, 并强调了导致用户怀疑和抵制将VR用于旅游的障碍。这些障碍可以直接影响用户的不采用意图和虚拟旅游的成功。

Desde sus inicios, las tecnologías de realidad virtual (RV) se han aplicado ampliamente en el sector turístico, dadas sus ventajas competitivas al ofrecer a los usuarios una experiencia novedosa que hace que un entorno o escena artificial parezca el mundo real. Como resultado, la RV se ha considerado una tecnología muy solicitada, ya que puede ofrecer una nueva forma de involucrar a los turistas y mejorar su experiencia de viaje. Sin embargo, la adopción de la RV por parte de los turistas senior (que son uno de los grupos potenciales de turistas) aún es relativamente baja en el contexto del turismo. El presente estudio se propuso responder a este déficit en la literatura examinando el impacto de las barreras que contribuyen a la resistencia y el escepticismo de los turistas mayores hacia la RV en el turismo.

Utilizando un enfoque transversal, los datos para este estudio se recopilaron de 600 turistas de la tercera edad elegibles a través de una encuesta mediante cuestionario. Para obtener respuestas válidas y fiables, se llevó a cabo una técnica de muestreo intencional con criterios de selección. Una vez depurados los datos y eliminados los sujetos no válidos, se procedió a su análisis en una muestra de 546 individuos utilizando paquetes de software estadístico como SPSS y la técnica de modelado de ecuaciones estructurales basada en la covarianza AMOS.

En el marco de la teoría de la resistencia a la innovación, los resultados del estudio ponen de manifiesto la importancia de las barreras técnicas y psicológicas para explicar la resistencia y el escepticismo de los turistas de la tercera edad hacia el uso de la RV en el turismo. En concreto, el riesgo percibido, la incompatibilidad percibida, la ansiedad tecnológica, la inercia y la falta de interacción humana se asociaron con el escepticismo y la resistencia de los turistas mayores hacia el uso de la RV en el turismo. Sin embargo, no se encontró ninguna relación significativa entre la complejidad percibida y la resistencia. Además, tanto el escepticismo como la resistencia influyen en las intenciones de no adoptar la RV.

Este estudio es uno de los pocos que examinan el territorio menos explorado de la literatura turística en relación con la no adopción de la innovación contemporánea (es decir, la tecnología de RV) para fines de turismo virtual. Además, esta investigación también se centra en la perspectiva de los turistas senior, que representan un segmento de mercado prometedor en el sector turístico. El presente estudio contribuye con éxito a la literatura existente al ofrecer una perspectiva empírica y poner de relieve las barreras u obstáculos que provocan el escepticismo y la resistencia de los usuarios hacia el uso de la RV con fines turísticos, lo que podría influir directamente en su intención de no adopción y en el éxito del turismo virtual.

The purpose of this paper is to apply systems modeling to explore the usability of the online learning platform in the future compared to its usefulness during the pandemic era.

The applied systems research methodology has been used to develop a stock-flow model encompassing enablers and constraints for learning platform usage from the primary data collected through a survey of 163 respondents.

The model simulation observed promising trends over one year for online learning platforms provided the challenges are reduced in seven to eight months. Challenges linked to the Internet and interaction need must be removed for future usage.

The results of the survey and model simulation suggest actions for product planning and development of online learning platforms based on customer insights. Product customization and feature enhancement will be required for the continued usability of online learning products. Actions for Internet service providers are to capture the online learner market by removing issues of Internet access bandwidth, and quality of content. Also, there should be sufficient teacher–student interaction in the online learning mode.

This is an original study using systems modeling to evaluate factors contributing to students' intention to use online learning conducted at Dayalbagh Educational Institute (Deemed to be University) Dayalbagh Agra, UP, India, 282005.

This paper aims to explore the recognition and success of different ways of branding native advertising in influencer marketing.

The data are evaluated using statistical tests, correlation and cluster analysis.

It was found that the higher the recognition rate of a post tagged in a particular way, the better the tagging method for influencer marketing on Instagram. Based on the findings of this study, word tag is recommended first because it is flexible and has one of the highest recognition rates.

The generalizability of the results across different regional settings requires further investigation.

Good labeling of native advertising leads to greater success.

This study can be used by marketing managers, advertisers and influencers to gain insight into the issue, as well as to better select the appropriate labeling method for their advertising content.

Este trabajo tiene como objetivo explorar el reconocimiento y el éxito de diferentes formas de branding de publicidad nativa en el marketing de influencers.

Los datos se evalúan mediante pruebas estadísticas, correlación y análisis de conglomerados.

Se encontró que cuanto mayor es la tasa de reconocimiento de un post etiquetado de una manera particular, mejor es el método de etiquetado para el marketing de influencers en Instagram. Basándose en los resultados de este estudio, se recomienda en primer lugar el etiquetado por palabras porque es flexible y tiene una de las tasas de reconocimiento más altas.

Un buen etiquetado de la publicidad nativa conduce a un mayor éxito.

Este estudio puede ser utilizado por directores de marketing, anunciantes e influencers para obtener información sobre el tema, así como para seleccionar mejor el método de etiquetado adecuado para su contenido publicitario.

La generalizabilidad de los resultados en diferentes entornos regionales requiere más investigación.

本文旨在探讨影响者营销中不同方式的品牌原生广告的识别和成功。

使用统计测试、相关性和聚类分析对数据进行评估。

研究发现, 以特定方式标记的帖子的识别率越高, Instagram上影响者营销的标记方式就越好。基于这项研究的结果, 首先推荐单词标签, 因为它很灵活, 而且有最高的识别率之一。

对原生广告进行良好的标注会带来更大的成功。

本研究可供营销经理、广告商和影响者使用, 以深入了解这一问题, 并更好地为其广告内容选择合适的标签方法。

研究结果在不同地区环境中的普适性需要进一步调查。

With the rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence (AI), it is important to consider how young people are making sense of these tools in their everyday lives. Drawing on critical postdigital approaches to learning and literacy, this study aims to center the experiences and perspectives of young people who encounter and experiment with generative AI in their daily writing practices.

This critical case study of one digital platform – Character.ai – brings together an adolescent and adult authorship team to inquire about the intertwining of young people’s playful and critical perspectives when writing on/with digital platforms. Drawing on critical walkthrough methodology (Light et al., 2018), the authors engage digital methods to study how the creative and “fun” uses of AI in youths’ writing lives are situated in broader platform ecologies.

The findings suggest experimentation and pleasure are key aspects of young people’s engagement with generative AI. The authors demonstrate how one platform works to capitalize on these dimensions, even as youth users engage critically and artfully with the platform and develop their digital writing practices.

This study highlights how playful experimentation with generative AI can engage young people both in pleasurable digital writing and in exploration and contemplation of platforms dynamics and structures that shape their and others’ literate activities. Educators can consider young people’s creative uses of these evolving technologies as potential opportunities to develop a critical awareness of how commercial platforms seek to benefit from their users.

This study contributes to the development of a critical and humanist research agenda around generative AI by centering the experiences, perspectives and practices of young people who are underrepresented in the burgeoning research devoted to AI and literacies.