Internet Crime in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Nigeria’s portfolio of crimes has increased in recent years as a result of the activities of internet scammers known in local parlance as “Yahoo-Yahoo boys,” who commit crimes through various forms of internet fraud both locally and internationally. These crimes have destructive impacts on Nigeria’s global image and also have a negative impact on the security of e-commerce in a world that is increasingly cyber-dependent. This study will survey 60 “Yahoo-Yahoo boys” (who are mostly undergraduates, school drop-outs, and unemployed graduates) to describe the nature and characteristics of Yahoo-Yahoo fraud; understand the economic, cultural, and socio-psychological factors that have encouraged the rising prevalence of Yahoo-Yahoo crime among youth; characterize the effects of Yahoo-Yahoo crime on the economy; and identify potential remedies to stem the tide of these crimes. Results of this study are forthcoming.