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THE IMPACT OF CYBERCRIME ON NIGERIAN YOUTHS

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 THE IMPACT OF CYBERCRIME ON NIGERIAN
YOUTHS.
OGUNJOBI OLAREWAJU.
S5325875
Department of Computing and informatics
Bournemouth University
Poole, United Kingdom.
Email: [email protected].

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION:
The introduction and innovation of the internet, The 20th century introduced the use of technology
the computer, and mobile devices has given rise
to the increase of cybercrime in Nigeria and the innovation in almost every sector of the economy.
world at large. Enhance connectivity among similar sectors and
allow easy communication while transacting
Cybercrimes in Nigeria are perpetrated by
youths within the age limit of 18 – 45, who have business or performing other activities. Powered
taken advantage of the fast growth in information by the internet, internet of things, wide area
technology, to swindle private and public
network, cyberspace is said to be overcrowded
businesses of their hard earn valuables.
with cyber activities. This has also attracted
The rate at which youths get involved in this
cybercriminals or unauthorized intruders of all
crime is becoming alarming, as it is said to have
a negative impact on the future of the nation, and sort, loitering for vulnerability, waiting to attack
has created a bad international image for the their victims.
country.
Cybercrime (in a broader sense) is criminal
The existence of unemployment, bad governance,
poverty are the major reasons youths engage in activities carried out using electronic devices
cybercrime, especially those from the rural (computer), the communication network
background. (internet) and data with the sole purpose of
This paper will analyze the impacts of extorting valuables from victims, once a
cybercrime on the youths of Nigeria, how to vulnerability is exploited. [1]
come out of this menace and ways to restore the
glory of Nigeria. Cybercrime is targeted on the victim’s computer,
Keywords: cyber-crime, youth, Nigeria, with the intention to spread malware, obtain
international, internet, network. illegal information, and gain unauthorized access
to make a profit or steal vital information from
victims.
Youths in Nigeria (within age 18– 45) have seized ransomware attack is carried out on the computer,
the opportunity of the tremendous growth in the but the main target is on the victim (information
internet and technology (the innovation in mobile or resources). Some other techniques used are
gadget development, the internet of things (IoT), automated teller machine spoofing, Identity theft,
and information technology) to commit internet cyber-stalking, hacking, phishing, cyber-
fraud for financial gain. terrorism, internet chat room, cyber-espionage,
fraudulent electronic mail, etc.
This paper will focus on the following:
With the successful record in some Cybercriminal
- An overview of the increasing number of
incidence [2], Nigeria youth engage in cybercrime
youths engaging in cybercrime.
as a business opportunity driven by profit and
- Reasons youth indulge in cybercrime and its
selfish financial gain, as a result of lack of job,
consequences.
poverty and bad governance.
- Strategies to curb the prevailing menace -
cybercrime in Nigeria. The interesting feature of cyber-crime is that it is
- Cybercrime techniques are used to perpetrate easy to learn, so does not require any form of
these criminal acts. formal education, which of course made it easy for
- Remedial measures to curb cybercrime. the youth of all background to find interest. It
- National Strategy set to curb cybercrime. further requires little resources compared to the
havoc they incur, and finally, it’s a crime that is
BACKGROUND OF STUDY.
committed by proxy or says requires less physical
The increased number of cyberspace users has presence. [3]
increased the rate of cybercrime, which is posing
Cybercriminals occupy a large part of social
a worrisome threat to the National Economy,
media and the online ecosystem where money,
National Infrastructure, National Security,
data and transactions are exchanged online, going
Governance and Technology around the globe.
by the names “yahoo-yahoo” “419 stars”, “yahoo

Overtime Nigeria youths are part of the numerous plus”. They maintain a lavish lifestyle with

users of the cyberspace, whose engagement in notorious identity from the proceeds of surfing the

cyber fraud has become worrisome. The net. They go as far as mixing spiritual elements

intentions of engaging in cybercrime are to carry (magical ring, an incision made around the wrist,
out illegal activities, with the computer as the etc.) with surfing the net to cast a spell on their

target or a tool, depending on the context of victim, to fall for their demand.

vulnerability involve. For example, when a

 Internet crime in Nigeria is socially organized and and arraigned before a US Attorney office
highly networked, they are assisted by insiders where he pleaded guilty to a computer-based
and bank staff, who leaks vital customer’s details intrusion fraud scheme that resulted in $11m
and facilitate payment transfer through (Eleven million Dollars) loss of his victim. [5]
domiciliary accounts, credit cards, and money - Secondly, the popular Ramon Olorunwa Abbas
grams. (aka Hushpuppi) was arrested alongside few
Nigerians in Dubai, they are been investigated

OVERVIEW OF STUDY: and undergoing trial on their involvement for

money Laundry, Computer intrusion, and BEC
As a result of the high rate of unemployment, bad
scheme. [6]
governance, poor educational system, and poverty
- Dton (aka Bill Henry) 25 years Nigerian, who
in Nigeria, youths are now involved in cybercrime
buys and sells stolen credit card credentials,
as a major source of livelihood also known as
using Aspire Logger, Origin Logger, and
advance fee fraud, which in most cases, has
Nanocore. [7]
portrayed a negative image on Nigerians globally.
- The Economics and Financial Crime
Nigeria is rank third in the world behind the USA
Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria, along with the
(United State of America) and the UK (United
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested
Kingdom) for engagement in cybercrime, a claim
281 individuals for various crimes, of which
by the Federal Bureau of investigation and it’s
167 were Nigerian youths. [8]
Internet Crime Complaint Centre, [4] the record
did not take into account the fact that only a In 2017, Nigerians are rated 37% users of online
certain percentage of victims report cases of transactions within Africa countries, 7% of these
cybercrime. To participate in these acts, online transactions are fraudulent in nature. [9]
intelligence and knowledge on smart-tech are very An estimate of N250 billion and N288 billion
necessary, educational qualification is of little financial loss was recorded in 2017 and 2018
importance. respectively due to cyber-attack on business,
banks, and government infrastructure in Nigeria,

Some of the cases to be sited in this study are as this has increased highly with the general

follows: lockdown in 2020.

- An arrest was made of a high-profile Nigeria loss the sum of $500 million per annum

entrepreneur, Obinna Okeke (Owner of on cybercrime which is less than its Gross

Invictus group of company), who was arrested Domestic Product (GDP), those affected are banks
and corporate offices. [10]

Hypothetical questions: Physical Effects:

Cyber-attack has grown beyond the attack on data,

- Why do youths in Nigeria involve in
information, and devices, to the attack that affects
cybercrime?
physical structure. These physical attacks are
- Does Nigeria have the right policy to control
targeted at critical infrastructure (like taking down
cybercrime?
a power grid), medical facilities, and financial
- How effective are the policy of cybercrime in
institutions.
Nigeria?
A literal example could be, when the location of a
EFFECTS OF CYBERCRIME. cyber-attack victim is tracked without his consent
using his smartphone, Google map.
Psychologically Effects:
Educational Effect:
Online victims of cyber-attacks usually suffer
from emotional trauma, which in most cases lead The advent of social media has easily spread the
to depression, acute stress disorder (ASD). [11]. awareness of cybercrime among the youth in
From our review of few literature, we have Nigeria. This has drastically increased the quest
discovered that cyber terrorism (a type of cyber- for participation in cybercrime, having seen the
attack) increases fear in the mind of its victim, lavish lifestyle fluent on social media, clubs, and
thereby making it necessary for an increase in other social gatherings not knowing the danger
security improvement to avoid further actions and behind this wealth.
to regain confidence. [12].
Some youth go as far as withdrawing from school
In most psychological cases, victims of cyber- to join the pyramid of cybercriminals. What this
attack feel they are to be blamed for the attack, means is, like in Dton story youths are recruited,
they prefer not to involve anyone, or preferably trained, and mentored by the godfather.
handle the situation themselves. Other impacts are
isolation and drug abuse.
Economical Effect: school.

The common negative effects Cybercrime has Cybercrime activities are motivated by the influx
generally are revenue losses, disruption of of youth to the urban city where it is lucrative to
business, profit pilferage, and welfare losses. In be established. It’s surprising to note that youths
most cases, affected stakeholders, don’t have travel out of Nigeria to other countries for hide
records of losses encountered or let say the out, location to carry out their activities without an
conceal losses information, projecting loses based easy trace. Youths in Nigeria find it difficult to get
on assumptions. Million to billions of naira are white-collar jobs, therefore canvass for any means
lost to cybercrime every year, but stakeholders for survival.
prefer to count it as the cost of running the
A vote of no confidence has been declared by the
business, a tradeoff for the benefit of the business,
youths on the good governance in the country,
and trade value, for continuity. [13]
some lives are lost as a result of hosting peaceful
Other Effect of Cybercrime protest.

- Huge cost incurred to fix damages caused by WAYS TO CURB NIGERIA YOUTH FROM
cybercrime, to prevent further action in the INVOLVING IN CYBERCRIME
future.
- Reputational mistrust as a result of - Enabling Cyber law or Policy: The

unauthorized access to data. government should enact stringent laws that

- Loss of creditworthiness as a result of identity reduce youths’ participation in cybercrime,

theft. what we have presently is weak.

- Upgrade to high tech and sophisticated
HOW THEN ARE NIGERIAN YOUTH
hardware: The nation needs to introduce the
INVOLVED IN CYBERCRIME?
use of forensic intelligence to enhance the
Every nation depends on its youths for the future. technique to tackle cybercrime, which
What then can be said, when the youths destroy its includes high-security gadgets.
future today? The reasons behind these decisions - Parental guidance and good societal value:
are not far-fetched, youths in the country are faced A good up bringing begins from teaching
with unemployment, lack of adequate social family values by parent and guidance. Parent
amenities, poverty, hunger, and bad education. should stand as good role model to their
The educational system has not made it easy as children.
recent statistic shows that 3% of youth drop out of - Creation of job opportunity: The idle hand
 they say is the devil workshop (the popular - Dating (Sweetheart Swindling)
local quote) this might be the major reason
This technique starts by getting acquitted with the
why youths engage in crime, if they get busy,
victim, mostly through social media with fake
the possibility of curbing cybercrime is high.
identification, building a romantic relationship or
online friendship, preferable a foreigner. Once
they have gain the trust of the victim, they start
making demands, which increases with time until
CYBERCRIME TECHNIQUES USED BY they are fully scammed. [14].
CYBER CRIMINALS IN NIGERIA.
- Others local techniques
Some of the techniques used by cyber-criminals
are outlined below: In Nigeria, Cybercriminals call its’ victim,
claiming to be a bank customer care personnel
- Next of kin:
requesting to carry out revalidation of customers
Is an ancient method used by yahoo boys, by account, using convincing information about that
sending email to victims (refer as Mugu) claiming customer, the request for credit card last four (4)
to be a person with a disability in need of digit, email, any other information, just to ensure
assistance or a prominent businessman in the the complete social engineering on the victim. If
country. They come in diverse forms of lie, like as they succeed, they withdraw every naira from that
an oil mogul who needs to export huge barrel of account.
crude oil, but in need of millions of Naira to
Remedial Measure to curb cybercrime:
execute, or as a banker of a dead person with a
huge amount of money stocked somewhere Organizational Weaknesses
known by the banker alone, so the need they
- The greatest loser of cybercrime are third-tier
victim to act as the next of kin of the deceased. If
nations, who are immature in cybersecurity.
the victim is convinced of this lie, he will be
- Human errors are the major weaknesses
ushered to some prominent lawyers and
hackers take advantage of to commit
government officials who will be responsible for
cybercrime. Human are users of the system,
moving these funds. At this point, they extract
and they are bound to make mistakes, it is
money for logistics from the victims, possibly
these mistakes hackers seize to infiltrate
invite them over to meet with their counterpart but
system.
end up not getting paid before realizing they have
been scam.
- Consistent backup, if not carried out National Strategy to control Youth
effectively, will lead to system breakdown and Involvement in cybercrime.
reduce downtimes.
- Establish a computer emergency response
- Using outdated technology/antivirus are
unit.
loopholes for criminals, they have automated
- Initiate the cybersecurity unit in all sections of
tools that can overwrite outdated software.
the country.
- The use of viruses like ransomware, botnet,
- Encourage national capacity building on
malware, etc. can be used to infiltrate
cyber-attack.
computers, servers, and networks for the soul
- Adopt intensive cybercrime legislation and
aim of stealing information.
threat countermeasures nationwide.
- Using vendors to develop in-house software
- Provide measures to reduce national
could be dangerous, since the database is not
vulnerability and protect national
domicile with the organization.
infrastructure. [15]
- Creating more awareness by training users of
the system is usually a challenge for most top Conclusion.
stakeholders.
The study has fully shown that youths
- Lack of contingency planning and risk
involvements in cybercrime have been
management affects organizational decision
necessitated by diverse reason, if properly
making when it is related to cybercrime.
contained will have a positive effect on the nation.
Cyber Strength to mitigate the attack.
The government, family, and youths all have a
- Good practice is a good weapon to fight vital role to play in this contest, collective action
cybercrime. could better the interest of future existence, regain
- If victims can adhere to cybersecurity tips, it international reputation and promote the nation
will go a long way to help control cyber risk. economy.
- Frequent change of password, using the strong
Regulating the abusive usage of the internet,
combination for a password, and not using
social media just like china, japan, and other
thesame password on all application, can
world power will go a long way to check the
reduce cyber-attack.
excesses of cyber risk.
- Regular update of system firewall, software
Recommendable, the government of Nigeria can
antivirus should safeguard against cyber-
relate with advanced international bodies to
attack.
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