Exploration of the Types and Socio-Demographic Factors Influencing the Scourge of Cybercrime (original) (raw)
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International Journal of Advances in Scientific Research and Engineering (ijasre), 2019
Every country has its fair share of security challenges, but when the state of insecurity increases by the day, and then there is a need for urgent action. In Nigeria, the introduction of these three major inventions; the Computers, the Internet and the Mobile telephones gave rise to a huge outbreak of cybercrimes. It could be very evident that criminals and fraudsters leverage the anonymity supplied by means of the Internet to defraud unsuspecting victims. Unfortunately, the current social, economic and political trends have left a sour taste in the mouth of the youths; particularly, those from poor social and economic backgrounds. Notably, cybercrimes are of different categories in Nigeria ranging from; Internet frauds, software piracy, hacking, online scam, ATM or Credit card fraud, virus dissemination, phishing, cyber-stalking, and cyber-defamation. The occurrence of a high rate of unemployment, harsh economic conditions and bad educational systems also contributes immensely to the proliferation of cybercrimes in Nigeria. This paper analyses the adherent effects on the average Nigerian youth and the possible solutions. With Nigeria venturing into the cashless society, there is an urgent need to reduce the cybercrime menace ravaging our dear country.
SOCIOINT 2022- 9th International Conference on Education & Education of Social Sciences 13-14 June 2022- Online Conference, 2022
The trend in crime participation in recent times revolves around the use of information communication technology (ICT) for its perpetuation. This development has resulted in different types of vices, including cyber-crime. The problem of cyber-crime today in Nigeria has taken root and has become pervasive among undergraduates with severe implication in the Educational System in Nigeria. The theory used for this study is Neutralization theory. The study adopted a survey design and data gathered was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The findings of this study identified the idea of get rich quick, bad parenting, peer influence, dishonesty, poor moral values, and family pressure as major factors driving undergraduates' involvement in cybercrime. Furthermore, it was also discovered that cybercrime has a negative impact on the nation's image and educational system in Nigeria. The study recommended that there should be increased internet security to help protect data, proper awareness about cybercrime should be implemented and also, government should put in place strict penalties on offenders as this would help curb the desire for undergraduate involvement in cyber-crime.
Gusau Journal of Sociology, 2021
The study was on the use of information and communication technology (ICT) by youths to perpetrate crimes in Jos Metropolis. ICT was invented with the intention of facilitating trade and commerce, education, fostering relationships and communication. But the sudden incursion of crime by youths into ICT calls for a cursory investigation. The study adopted the Space Transition Theory (STT) in explaining the phenomenon. The theory explains among others that criminals involve in cyber related crimes because of hidden identity and lose norms in the cyberspace. The study utilized the social survey design. Using Yemane’s formula, the study arrived at a sample of 400. Three hundred questionnaires were administered while 5 FGDs were carried out with 20 participants each. The study triangulated both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection for a comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon. The study discovered that unemployment is a major cause of cyber related crimes among youths in Jos Metropolis. Also, impersonation, deceitful messages etc are forms of cyber related crimes among the youths in the metropolis and these criminal behaviours had adverse impact on business transactions and investors tendencies in the metropolis. Consequent upon that, both the mass and social media could intensify efforts of making the youths know that their ICT knowledge could be used for genuine purpose of creating website etc and would earn lawful money; cybercrime offenders should be severely punished so that it serves as deterrence to others. Keywords: Criminality, cybercrime, development, ICT, Space Transition Theory
International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review, 2020
This study investigated factors responsible for cybercrime among youths in Onitsha South Local Government Area (L.G.A), Anambra State, Nigeria. The theoretical thrust for this paper is Social Strain Theory (SST). The study used the mixed-research design, and adopted multi-stage sampling procedure in the selection of 522 adults aged 18 years and above within the study area. A researcher-developed questionnaire was used to collect the quantitative data, while the qualitative data were collected using In-Depth Interviews (IDI). The quantitative data collected were processed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software and data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. The hypothesis stated was tested at 0.05 significant levels using the chi-square (χ 2) inferential statistics. On the other hand, the qualitative data were analysed using the manual content analysis. Findings of the study revealed that factors drive youths into Cybercrime in the area include: unemployment, peers influence, quest for wealth/get rich quick syndrome, poverty, greed, lack of internet security and poor parental supervision, among others. Consequently, it was recommended that programmes that can enable the youths achieve useful skills for selfemployment should be initiated to channel their mindsets towards more socially approved ventures.
CYBERCRIME AND THE CHALLENGES OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
This paper examined the nature and dynamics of cybercrime in Nigeria and its contribution to the socioeconomic development challenges in the country. The paper adopted the library research method as secondary data sourced fromarticles, journals, periodicals and publications were utilized. Anchored on the risks society theory, the paper argues that the internet revolution and the advent of mobile telephone technology in the country has posed unintended risks to the society evident in increasing surge in cybercrime such as yahoo-yahoo-advanced fee fraud, hacking, cyber stalking, virus attacks, espionage, character defamation, pornography, online gambling and so on. The paper concludes that widespread cybercrime has negative impact on the socioeconomic development of Nigeria as it tarnishes the image of the country at the global scale, deters foreign investments, and reduces confidence in the digital economy; with huge financial loses to individuals, business organizations and the government. Following these submissions, the paper amongst others recommends that the Nigerian government should enact comprehensive laws to curb cybercrime, while building the capacity of security experts on contemporary cyber technology; also the government should provide jobs and entrepreneurial development opportunities to engage young people to keep them away from crime, while pursuing vigorous enlightenment campaigns for the citizens on basic preventive and protective measures against cybercrime.
Causes of Socioeconomic Cybercrime in Nigeria
IEEE , 2016
— The causations of crimes that are relevant in the cyberspace concurrently impact in the physical space and vise versa. This paper aims to explore parents' perceptions of the factors that cause socioeconomic cybercrime in Nigeria. Despite a long-standing view that the juvenile offenders of today could become the hardened criminals of tomorrow, and the conclusions of a number of developmental theories on the stability of delinquency across the life course, the existing data on cybercrimes in Nigeria have principally been derived from studies involving university students. Yet, individuals' moral-standard-levels, which shape their offending capacities, are mostly developed in childhood. The empirical basis for this paper is face-to-face interviews with 17 Nigerian parents regarding children's vulnerability to involvement in cybercrime. Drawing upon qualitative data, this paper argues that a complex web of familial factors and structural forces, alongside cultural forces, explains the degree of cybercrime involvement on the part of Nigerian youths.
Cybercrime in Nigeria: Social Influence Affecting the Prevention and Control
Lafia Journal of Economics and Management Sciences, 2023
Over the past decade, the internet has grown dramatically with increasing everyday users. As internet users increase, so is the percentage of cybercriminals who seem to be shifting traditional crime to the internet. The predicted financial losses of N250 billion ($649 million) in 2017 and N288 billion ($800 million) in 2018 have made cybercrime in Nigeria one of the most difficult crimes to solve. Young people, especially those in higher education, are involved in cybercrime in Nigeria, but this crime is committed by both young and old adults. The involvement of young people is typically influenced by high levels of poverty, unemployment, insufficient laws against this crime, and diminished social influence. A nation with a high crime rate cannot prosper or develop. The study examines the effects of social influencers. The study utilized the structural-functional theory and the theory of technology-enabled crime to provide a grasp of the nature of the problem. Due to the nature of the investigation, secondary data and qualitative methods were used and it was found that youth involvement in cybercrime is significantly influenced by unemployment, peer pressure, and socialization factors. The study suggests that Nigeria should provide basic facilities (e.g., Electricity, Security, Good Governance and so forth), enhance its cybercrime laws and policies, and instruct its social agents (War against Indiscipline and Corruption, National Orientation Agency).
A Historical Assessment of Cybercrime in Nigeria: Implication for Schools and National Development
A nation would not grow without assessing the previous and present occurrences especially in this era of high globalize society that transform virtually all activities in a technological ways which human beings see advantage. Hence, this study focuses on a historical assessment of cybercrime in Nigeria: Implication for schools and National Development. A mixed research design was employed by the researchers in generating primary and secondary data. Primary data was generated using Focus Group Discussion (FGD) using 200 undergraduate students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi based on cybercrime and the secondary data was generated based on the existing electronic materials. The data generated from FGD were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequencies and percentages. Findings revealed that 84% of the students agreed that cybercrime exist highly among students such as; hacking of Face-Book Page or WhatsApp Page of someone in disguised using it for devious acts, Manipulating students' school fees and semester results are some of the cybercrimes in the school system. Further results of the secondary sources revealed related cybercrime to include; quest for wealth, Poor implementation of cybercrime laws, and corruption among others. With these alarming results, schools and National development would be at catastrophic in different ramifications of economy activities. The paper suggests that; schools should form personality assessment committee to assess students attitudes toward cybercrimes, Personal Identification Number (PIN) should not be made known to unknown persons, and Government should enact stringent laws and prosecute perpetrators of such act without discrimination among others.
Legal Correlates of Cybercrime Amongst Students in Tertiary Institutions in Delta State, Nigeria
JILS, 2020
This study investigated examined the legal correlates of cybercrime management amongst higher institution students in Nigeria with special reference to some selected tertiary institutions in Delta State, Nigeria. A correlation approach of survey research design was adopted in this study. In order to address the problem of this study, seven research questions were raised and seven research hypotheses were formulated and tested at a .05 level of significance. This study revealed that the law can provide solutions to Cyber Crime management in Nigeria. Poverty is a factor responsible for cybercrime in Nigeria. The law can promote intellectual property and ensure privacy rights. There are existing laws that adequately address challenges relating to cybercrimes. The study revealed that youths who are mostly male are the major perpetrator of cyber-crimes and the crime can be committed at any time of the day. The study found that
International Journal of Arts, Languages and Business Studies (IJALBS), 2019
The prevalence and consequences of cybercrime has been a major challenge and as a result, constituted danger to the national development of Nigeria. This menace has truly bastardized the reputation of Nigeria and hence, poses a threat to the sustainable development goal of this nation. However, information and communication technology is an essential tool for national development which is worthy of an investment. This is because the internet usage especially in Nigeria has grown rapidly resulting in the explosion of internet service providers (ISPs) and internet access point. This has had several positive impacts on the socio-economic and educational developments in the country. Nevertheless, as the connectivity and dependency on technology increases, so does the vulnerability. Technology has provided not only new tools, but also new opportunities for criminals operating the cyber realm. The abuse of these new technologies threatening the economic and financial security and actual d...