The Normalization of Fraud in Nigeria: An Excerpt From "In a Time of Fraud: The Untold Story of the Nigerian Fraudster"

Abstract:

The proliferation and widespread use of the internet in Nigeria has resulted in the emergence and spread of a wide range of computer- and internet-enabled device-related crimes. Identity theft, fraudulent electronic mail transmission, hacking, spamming, and machine spoofing are just a few examples of internet-facilitated crimes. This paper is an excerpt from the same author's unpublished book, "In a Time of Fraud: The Untold Story of the Nigerian Fraudster." Through participatory observations, surveys, and interviews, it aimed to expose the methods of internet fraudsters in Nigeria, also known as Gboys/Yahoo-boys, who operate in organized crime groups (OCGs), also known as Hustle Kingdoms (HKs). This paper attempts to demonstrate how widespread and interconnected the fraud networks and acts are in Nigeria and throughout Africa, as well as the complicity of the Nigerian police and the belief systems that fuel them.