Summary

I am Director of the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime at the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Portsmouth. We are the focus for research, teaching and knowledge services in counter fraud and related issues.

We have conducted research on a wide range of areas for bodies that include the Home Office, National Fraud Authority, EPSRC, Sentencing Council, Cifas, Midlands Fraud Forum, Crowe Clark Whitehill to name some. 

I also have an interest in private policing, security management and the regulation of it and have been involved in helping to develop the standards for this for the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime.  

 

Biography

I completed my first degree in Politics at the University of Exeter. My Masters was in Industrial Relations at the University of Warwick. I received my doctorate from the London School of Economics. I also hold a PgCert in Teaching and Learning from the University of Portsmouth. I am also a Fellow of the Security Institute. 

I joined the University of Portsmouth in 1997 and rose from Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Principal Lecturer, Reader to Professor in 2012. I was also Associate Head (Curriclum) of my department between 2004-2012.

Before coming to the University I was a Research Assistant to the Rt Hon Bruce George MP. I have also served as a Councillor on Portsmouth City Council.  

Research interests

My research interests began with private policing with an interest in non-state contributions to policing. This led me to fraud where this is largely the case. Along that journey I have developed interests in the following areas: 

Counter fraud 

Cyber-frauds 

Computer misuse 

Victims of fraud and computer misuse 

Fraud measurement 

Private policing 

Security management 

Private security regulation 

Doctoral supervision 

I am interested in candidates who wish to research any of my main areas of research interest identified above. 

Media availability

I am available to the media to discuss any issues relating to my research interests. 

Research outputs

2025

Nigerian confraternities and mass cross-border fraud

Button, M., Lazarus, S., Hock, B., Sabia, J., Pandey, D. S., Gilmour, P.

1 Nov 2025, In: Trends in Organized Crime

Research output: Article

Factors influencing involvement in cyber-frauds in west Africa and the implications for policy

Button, M., Lazarus, S., Hock, B., Sabia, J., Pandey, D. S., Gilmour, P.

22 Oct 2025, In: European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research

Research output: Article

Pulpit, power, and predation: “Yahoo Men of God,” prosperity theology, and the Twin Fraud Triangles

Lazarus, S., Tickner, P., Button, M.

10 Oct 2025, In: Critical Research on Religon

Research output: Article

Pathways, pressure, and profit: adaptive innovation and strain in a convicted cybercrime academy called Hustle Kingdom

Lazarus, S., Soares, A. B., Button, M.

12 Sep 2025, In: Deviant Behaviour

Research output: Article

Fear of fraud amongst older adults: a hidden epidemic?

Button, M., Shepherd, D. W. J., Hawkins, C. D., Tapley, J.

25 Jun 2025, In: Security Journal. 38, 21p., 44

Research output: Article

Economic espionage via fake social media profiles in the UK: professional workers awareness and resilience

Button, M., Shepherd, D. W. J., Jung, J.

24 Apr 2025, In: Security Journal. 38, 22p., 30

Research output: Article

Love, lies, and larceny: one hundred convicted case files of cybercriminals with eighty involving online romance fraud

Soares, A. B., Lazarus, S., Button, M.

31 Mar 2025, In: Deviant Behavior

Research output: Article

Strategic business movements? The migration of online romance fraudsters from Nigeria to Ghana

Lazarus, S., Button, M., Garba , K., Soares, A. B., Hughes, M.

1 Mar 2025, In: Journal of Economic Criminology. 7, 7p., 100128

Research output: Article

Assessing human trafficking and cybercrime intersections through survivor narratives

Lazarus, S., Chaing, M., Button, M.

25 Feb 2025, In: Deviant Behavior, 18p.

Research output: Article

The profile and detection of bribery in South Korea

Hock, B., Park, H., Oh, J., Button, M.

1 Feb 2025, In: Crime, Law and Social Change. 83, 16p., 15

Research output: Article

View all my research outputs