In today’s world, internet fraud has become a rampant evil among young men. Infact, many have taken it as a full-time job.

The early 90s was a period where Internet fraud began to gain momentum in Nigeria, and it was perpetrated by uneducated fraudsters using the internet to defraud unsuspecting victims who are mostly westerners. This evil trend has now developed into a “legitimate” business to incorporate educated Nigerian students and graduates who flaunt their ill-gotten wealth by buying expensive cars, lodging in expensive hotels, building or renting expensive accommodations. They are known as Yahoo Boys or Yahoo Yahoo in Nigeria and Sakawa Boys in Ghana. In this article, I discussed the causes, effects and solutions to internet fraud.

The Genesis

To everything under the sun, there is always a period traceable to its genesis. The collapse of the Nigerian economy starting from the early 80s hampered by the successive military coups, and the unending episodes of endemic corruption among government officials have grossly affected the livelihood of most Nigerian families. The sufferings have opened the eyes of promising young men who graduated from tertiary institutions without gainful employment, and they use the internet to defraud westerners of their hard earned money. The excuse of these young men is lodged at the doorstep of the government, citing the failure of leadership. Some of them  argue that they are only collecting what the Europeans stole from Africa during the period of enslavement and colonization.

Their Modus Operandi 

These young men initiate love scams. They use social messaging apps, download pictures and videos of sultry  ladies to entice some men who are looking for friendship and love on the internet. Once they are able to gain the trust of their victims, they scam them of their entire livelihood. Others pose as European men to deceive and defraud single ladies, divorced and widowed women. Some use phishing or post pictures of other people’s buildings properties and list them for sale. Once the victim sends the money for the transaction, they disappear without a trace into thin air.

Another frightening method is the one named Yahoo Plus. Here, these young men use human body parts as ingredients needed to either  hypnotize their victims who would,  under a strong spell, send his or her money to them without thinking twice about it or kill a human being to renew their money ritual. Some have even been reported to have used their girlfriends, mother, father or friends. It was reported in 2023 in Abeokuta, a state in western Nigeria, of two  teenage boys who decapitated a girl’s head, intending to pound it after they had roasted it to use it as preparation for money rituals. When asked how they came about the idea, they said that they saw the steps listed by a certain herbalist they came across on facebook.

In a similar vein, Nigerian musical artists have openly and subtly endorsed internet fraud in their musical lyrics. The first example is Olu Maintain (Olumide Edward Adegbulu) in his hit song titled Yahooze released in 2007. Another is a collaboration by both 9ice and Davido titled Living Things, released in 2016. More recently, there is a song by Stephen Adeoye titled Ali Go To School which also subtly promotes it. In all these music, the said artists have openly and subtly lean their weight in support of these nefarious activities. However, in interviews, when they are asked about the message they are trying to pass across to the populace in their music, they deny endorsing financial fraud and claim to be sensitizing the populace about its existence. Added to this is the lavish display of wealth by these artists that entices young men who dream of becoming like them through crooked means. That said, the root causes, effects and solutions to Internet fraud are discussed below.

Causes of Internet Fraud

1. Collapse of Societal Norms and Values

Gone are the days where hardwork and honesty are the pillars guiding the pattern of behaviour in the Nigeria society. There is a collapse of societal norms and values. Today, people worship money irrespective of how it is obtained. Society accords respect to these young men because they can pay the bills. Many young ladies have been lured with money and many of them used as sacrifices for all kinds of money rituals.

2. Parents As Willing Accomplices 

Parents are one of the causes of internet fraud. When a child returns home with expensive clothing or even purchasing things beyond his financial capacity and the parents celebrate it without questioning, the young man will think he is doing the right thing. Some parents  goad their children into scams and fraud by taking them to ‘churches’ where the ‘‘pastors’ pray for them or give them ‘prepared’ soap  to bathe with and which will help them attract clients. Some parents themselves enroll their children in ‘schools’ where they are taught how to scam people.

3. Poverty

Poverty is another root of this evil. When a young man cannot meet his basic needs and he sees his mates making sense out of life through the route of fraud, he can be tempted to toe that same path.

3. Laziness 

Many young men of today are bone lazy. They see hard work as punishment and would rather prefer to indulge in a life of ease where they get money they did not really work for.

4. Bribery And Corruption 

The root of this social vice is corruption. Corruption has become a regular garment in the Nigerian society. It is not only limited to finance but other areas of the Nigerian society. Bribery and corruption in both public and private institutions have contributed to this social menace.

Effects of Internet Fraud 

1. Negative Public Image

The tide of internet fraud has given Nigeria a public bad image in the comity of nations. Nigerians are viewed as potential criminals in all other nations.

2. Fear of Investing in Nigeria 

As a result of the rise in the cases of internet fraud, many potential investors are wary of bringing their investments to Nigeria because of the fear of being defrauded by Nigerians.

3. Negative Influence 

Today, most young people have this mindset that internet fraud is the right path to take because they see the way Yahoo boys  lavish their wealth and the respect people accord them.

4. Ritual killing 

Given the craze with which these young men pursue money, many have involved themselves in ritual killings, using family members, friends and girlfriends either to renew their oath or to increase their wealth.

How To Curb This Menace

1. Enforcing The Law

Before any meaningful progress can be made to curb internet fraud, laws against financial fraud, bribery and corruption  must be ruthlessly enforced irrespective of who is the victim. Civil servants who have misappropriated public funds must be made to face the full wrath of the law.

2. Creating An Enabling Environment 

The government should create an enabling environment where businesses can thrive, where hardwork is appreciated and rewarded, and laziness is openly condemned.

3. Arresting Internet Fraudsters 

Arresting, parading and jailing internet fraudsters without the option of bail should be done without any sympathy.

4. Upholding Societal Norms And Values 

When societal norms and values are upheld by all and sundry, there will be no room for negative behaviour. If however such occurs, it will be nipped in the bud before it spreads.

Conclusion 

Fraud of all kinds robs the people involved in it of their self esteem especially when they are caught and paraded. Internet fraud is not a business and it should be discouraged by every meaningful Nigerians.

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