The Rise of Yahoo Yahoo: Nigerian Cyber Crime

If you live in Nigeria, one of the popular terms you would have been conversant with is Yahoo, Yahoo. This has nothing to do with Yahoo mail but a term that refers to one of the popular cybercrimes in Nigeria.

CyberCrime, that’s Yahoo Yahoo, has become a serious issue of concern within the last few years. 

It is used to describe common groups of people — mostly young Nigerian males, internet fraudsters (aka Yahoo boys) from different regions of Nigeria targeting foreign nationals using the Internet; 

The activity of Yahoo Yahoo has not only drawn international attention, it has also led to the conversation towards socio-economic factors surrounding their activities.

Seeking how to do Yahoo Yahoo is one of the prevalent endeavours for most young men today in Nigeria.

In this writing, we will discuss Nigerian Cybercrime: Yahoo Yahoo, how it started, their tactics, common terms used by Yahoo boys, punishment if caught, and how Nigerians have been trying to combat it.

Who are the Yahoo boys?

The “Yahoo boys,” as they are referred to, frequently work in organized gangs and generally employ some social engineering tactics to perpetrate scams against individuals and businesses. 

They are playing tricks with people from romantic fraud to business mail compromise, using advanced computer skills and modern technology.

Many of these young men view this as an opportunity to make money out of sheer frustration, given the limited economic opportunities in Nigeria.

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When Did Cybercrime Economy in Nigeria Start? 

The rise in internet use in Nigeria started seeing cybercrimes emerge as early as the first decade of the 2000s. With the rising unemployment and poverty rates, many young Nigerians began to look for online ways to make money.

Previously, a potent mix of economic necessity, corrupt and dysfunctional law enforcement, and an increasingly tech-savvy population combined to make the region a smorgasbord for cybercriminals.

What is Nigeria’s Rank in Cyber Crime?

Today, Nigeria is rated 5th among the countries with the highest cybercriminal activities and their contribution to international cyber fraud has also been heightened.

Nigeria comes behind Russia, which ranked number one, and Ukraine, China, and the United States, which occupied the second, third, and fourth positions, respectively.

According to several international agencies, Nigeria is the base for many internet scams and has the focus of Interpol and many other law enforcement agencies worldwide.

How much has Nigeria lost to cybercrime?

The financial toll of cybercrime in Nigeria is staggering, with estimates suggesting that the nation loses billions of dollars annually to these illicit activities. EFCC reports state that internet fraud hurts the economy of the country and makes its image abroad bad and discourages foreign investors.

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How do Yahoo boys operate?

Apartment Trick 

This is one of the most common types of Yahoo scams. To make the scam successful, the scammers pose as real estate agents or brokers and do various things. Often, this involves creating a good-looking website. The scammers then upload fake photos of luxury homes and pretend to be selling the property. 

The unsuspecting buyers are lured in by the images and decide to make payments to the specified account to buy the property. In reality, the properties depicted in these images have never been for sale and are not located in any other country. 

Once the payment is completed, the scammer closes the website or blocks the person who made the payment. 

ATM Fraud 

This method usually targets elderly people and those with reading and writing problems. To make the trick successful, the Yahoo Boy stands at an unmanned ATM and waits for the victim to approach. He then pretends to help them withdraw money. After that, several things can happen, such as your bank card being replaced, the debited amount being withdrawn, etc. 

Phishing 

This is one of the more advanced but widely used Yahoo Boy techniques. Phishing is the illegal acquisition of someone else’s personal information.

Credit card details, usernames, passwords, and phone numbers are valuable information for scammers. This happens through phishing software, usually downloaded and installed by unsuspecting users. 

Prize Bait 

This technique aims to exploit the public’s penchant for discounted products. The scammer creates a product page dedicated to selling cars. He uploads photos of cars significantly cheaper than the average market price. The victim then calls and asks for a specific model. 

At this point, they are asked to pay about half the amount to “reserve” the vehicle and prevent someone else from buying it. Once the victim completes the payment, the scammer disappears, and in some cases, the website is shut down. 

Web Freestyle 

Most scammers in Nigeria are reported to start with this Yahoo format. They create fake profiles on the most popular dating sites.

The scammer then poses as a poor student, a divorced wife/husband, or another person to stimulate the victim’s emotions. Once the victim falls in love with the scammer, they may send money before deciding to meet in person. 

Spam 

This spam aims to exploit people who want to win free stuff. The scammers collect a large number of email addresses from residents and foreigners. They then send emails informing them that they have won a jackpot or lottery. 

The victim is then asked to send a small amount as a “fee” for the winnings. Once the amount is sent, the scammers stop all communication. 

What do Yahoo Boys use to facilitate transactions? 

Here, we examine the social vices, circumstances, technological advancements, and networks that fuel the Yahoo Boy problem. 

Time 

Most Yahoo Boys who commit banking fraud, such as credit card phishing, ATM fraud, and prize scams, operate on weekends. 

This is because most banks are closed, and there is not much the victim can do to stop or reverse the transaction. When the banks reopen on Monday, most of the victim’s money is usually gone. 

Banking Network 

Most of the Yahoo boys have connections in the banking industry. This makes it very easy for them to withdraw their illegally acquired money. 

If someone takes a cash card from an elderly person, asks for a PIN, and exchanges it, they can go to a bank teller and withdraw a large amount of money. Of course, this is done for a fee. 

Corruption and Social Breakdown in Nigeria 

Modern society prizes wealth, regardless of how it was acquired. This is why unscrupulous practices like 419 fraud are so common, as fraudsters are socially accepted even if their wealth was obtained illegally. 

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) 

Before VPNs, it was very easy to track someone committing internet fraud. This was because their IP address was easily visible and could be tracked. 

VPNs make this tracking much harder, as they hide a person’s actual location and instead make it appear that they are in a different place, most often a different country. 

The internet, your smartphone, your laptop. These are the tools of the trade for almost every Yahoo Boy. These three have made it easy for them to access millions of unsuspecting victims in Nigeria and worldwide. 

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What is the punishment for Yahoo in Nigeria?

The Nigerian government does not play when it comes to this kind of crime, and they give out harsh punishments to those who are caught. Punishments range from fines to years in prison, the severity of the offense and the amount of money involved play a big factor.

Who investigates cyber-crime in Nigeria?

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is the Nigerian agency investigating financial crimes. It has sentenced many offenders to prison terms ranging from a few years to more than 10 for the more serious offenders.

To stop this growing wave of cybercrime, the EFCC works with other forces, like the Nigeria Police Force and the National Cybercrime Centre. These agencies play a key role in investigating internet crimes, collecting evidence, doing busts, and making arrests.

Besides that, the EFCC created a division to deal with internet fraud, scams, and other cyber crimes, making them easier to handle.

Public awareness campaigns have also been conducted to inform the public of the moral and legal implications of participating in cybercrime.

The Nigerian government and international partners have been working on improving its legal frameworks, including Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc. Passed into law in 2015, it offers more distinct boundaries and harsher punishments to discourage these internet criminals.

What are the forms of cybercrime in Nigeria?

Cybercrime in Nigeria manifests in various forms, reflecting the rapidly evolving digital landscape and the increasing reliance on technological platforms. Online fraud, commonly called “419 scams,” is among the most prevalent manifestations. 

Those are usually ones that try to trick the person into wiring money for some reason, using phishing emails and that whole identity theft thing.

Not to mention, the spread of social media has created new forms of cyberbullying and harassment for both people and companies. 

Another trend recognized is the increase in ransomware attacks, which are when malicious software encrypts user data and asks for money to decrypt it. 

Cyberstalking and data breaches, including unauthorized access to sensitive personal or corporate information, further complicate the spectrum of cybercrime in Nigeria.

What are the challenges of cybercrime in Nigeria?

The challenges of combating cybercrime in Nigeria are multifaceted. The main problem is that the current legal system does not support cybercrimes. Although the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act passed in 2015, enforcement and the legal interpretation of it are sketchy at best.

Law enforcement agencies often lack the technological expertise and resources to investigate and prosecute cybercriminals effectively.

The nagging problem of internet access and digital literacy also creates a huge barrier because many citizens don’t know how to secure themselves online and defend themselves against threats.

The other problem deals with the socio-economic aspects of cybercrime, namely that high unemployment and lack of legitimate economic opportunities make cybercrime an inviting means of economic support. Plus, the internet is international, so whose jurisdiction is it under anyway? Nigerians can’t exactly arrest some guy in another country just because he’s a cybercriminal.

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FAQs

Conclusion

So, to sum up, Yahoo’s coming demonstrates the relationship between socio-economic problems and the digital world in Nigeria. The government, police, and community need to deal with this problem by providing stable jobs and teaching the kids morals and ethics in technology. 

Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort from the government, law enforcement, and the public to foster a secure digital environment and enhance the nation’s cyber resilience.

References

• legit.ng/The Rise of Yahoo Yahoo
• researchgate.net/Yahoo Yahoo
• thecable.ng/How Yahoo boys operate

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