COMMUNICATION PATTERNS OF CYBERCRIME IN THE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

In the era of technological development in Indonesia, Fintech services
(Financial technology) are increasingly widespread, one of which is Peer
to peer lending or often known as online loans (Pinjol). Moreover,
during the COVID-19 pandemic, it had an economic impact, so people
chose a way out to borrow funds through illegal loans because there
was no guarantee, the process was easy and fast. The purpose of the
study was to determine the communication pattern of digital crime in
the financial technology business during the COVID-19 pandemic (a
case study of illegal online loan application debtors). The paradigm
used is constructivist with qualitative research methods, using the
theory of Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) and the theory of
technological determinism. Researchers used informants based on the
purposive sampling technique. The results of the study indicate that
the communication pattern of digital crime in the fintech business of
illegal lending applications during the COVID-19 pandemic between
creditors and debtors uses one-way and two-way communication
patterns with synchronous communication and asynchronous
communication types. Changes in communication technology
inevitably lead to communication failures, as well as changes in cultural
and social fabrics. The ongoing communication process gives rise to
digital crimes of online fraud, cyber-related crime, and infringements
of privacy, which are forms of violation for the benefit of the illegal
lending company while harming the debtor as a victim.
Keywords: Financial technology; Digital Crime; Illegal Online Loans;
Communication Patterns; Computer-Mediated
Communication (CMC) Theory