AN EVALUATION OF THE CAUSES, IMPLICATION AND SOLUTION TO INTERNET FRAUD AMONG NIGERIAN STUDENTS.

AN EVALUATION OF THE CAUSES, IMPLICATION AND SOLUTION TO INTERNET FRAUD AMONG NIGERIAN STUDENTS.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Technological advancements have transformed the world into a global village. The majority of nations’ economies can be accessed electronically via the internet. Deception thrives in this environment because the electronic market is accessible to everyone, including eavesdroppers and criminals. However, there are two distinct effects of the internet-enabled information technology revolution: On the one hand, it has made the world a better place. On the other hand, it has brought about a new wave of crime all over the world and a slew of illnesses that pose a threat to society’s order. The online business services, which are supposed to be a benefit because they open up a lot of opportunities in many areas of life, are quickly becoming a source of pain and anxiety because of the atrocities that are committed through them. Shinder (2002) defines internet fraud as any criminal activity that includes the use of the internet or another computer network as a component. The term “internet fraud” refers to crimes committed against a single person or a group of people with the intention of causing the victim’s reputation to be damaged on a global scale or causing the victim to suffer physical or mental harm, either directly or indirectly, through the use of current telecommunication networks like the internet and mobile phones. According to Akogwu (2012), such crimes may put the nation’s security and economic well-being in jeopardy. According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (Awe, 2009), with a youth unemployment rate of approximately 45% in 2017 and a significant increase in internet penetration to approximately 47.1 percent in 2018, some young Nigerians have chosen to acquire wealth through various forms of internet fraud. The Nigerian government loses 128 billion naira annually as a result of this threat, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission’s Cyber Security Outlook for 2017. Cybercrime has also tarnished the image of Nigerians living abroad, in addition to causing economic harm. In addition, the EFCC is reporting cyber-related offenses at an alarmingly rapid rate. Some of the alleged causes of cybercrime in Nigeria include unemployment, a lack of cyber security staff, a desire to become wealthy without hard work, and a lack of regulations governing various cyber-related crimes. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct research into the causes, effects, and solutions of internet fraud among Nigerian students.

1.2 A brief description of the issue (Olugbodi, 2010): “The internet’s contribution to the nation’s progress has been clouded by the emergence of new forms of criminality.” Additionally, the most risk-free and lucrative forms of criminal activity have found safe haven on the internet. Internet fraud is now a global problem in every region, from Europe to America to Africa to Asia. Internet fraud is a strange phenomenon that has settled in Nigeria for the time being. It shocked everyone. In Nigeria, we see an increasing number of appalling instances of online fraud on a daily basis, each one more appalling than the one before it. At Nigerian higher education institutions, exam malpractice, admissions fraud, rape, robbery, and larceny, sexual abuse, violence, and cultism are all common. However, in recent years, cyber fraud has emerged as a new type of criminal activity in our higher education institutions, causing economic damage (Ehimen, 2010).

1.3 The Purpose of the Study The primary objective of the study is to: 1) Determine the factors that contribute to Nigerian students engaging in internet fraud.

2) To investigate the impact of online fraud on Nigerian students.

3) To determine whether the government intervenes in the fight against online fraud.

4) To determine the solution to student internet fraud in Nigeria.

1.4 Research Questions The study has prepared the following questions: What causes Nigerian students to engage in internet fraud?

2. What effects does online fraud have on Nigerian students?

3. Is there any intervention by the government to reduce online fraud?

4. What is the solution to student internet fraud in Nigeria?

1.5 Importance of the Study This research will be important to the government of Nigeria because it will help them come up with ways to stop students in Nigeria from engaging in online fraud.

The academic community will benefit from this study because it will add to the existing body of knowledge.

1.6 The scope of the study This study will investigate the factors that contribute to students in Nigeria engaging in internet fraud. Additionally, the study will investigate the impact of internet fraud on Nigerian students. The study will also find out if the government is doing anything to stop online fraud. The study will also determine a solution to the problem of Nigerian students engaging in internet fraud. As a result, the study will only focus on the University of Lagos.

1.7 The study’s limitations The following factors contributed to the study’s limitations:

Similar to any other research, the researcher was limited in his or her ability to obtain relevant materials, print questionnaires, and collate them due to financial constraints, which prevented the researcher from collecting data. Time is another constraint because the researcher must shuttle between writing the research and other academic work, making it uncomfortable. 1.8 Definitions of terms Internet fraud: the use of Internet services or software with access to the Internet to defraud victims or take advantage of them in other ways