Cybercrime dates back to the advent of the internet. Referring to the perpetration of criminal activities using the computer or internet, cybercrime covers a broad range of crimes, including stealing of usernames and passwords, phone numbers, addresses, credit card and bank account details, cyberstalking and invasion of privacy. Although cybercrime was not widespread in the 20th century, the momentum at which it is perpetrated in recent times is alarming, even as concerted efforts are being made by different countries to end it or, at best, reduce its prevalence.
Recently, a Nigerian based in Dubai, Ramon Olorunwa Abass, popularly known as Hushpuppi in the social media, was arrested with 10 members of his gang in Dubai. In the ‘Fox Hunt 2’ operation, the Dubai media office explained how its investigations led to Hushpuppi’s arrest.
Apparently, they had been closely monitoring the activities of the alleged fraudsters on social media for about four months. The investigation also uncovered that the gang allegedly stole of DH1.6bn (about N169bn) through scamming 1.9m people. This is definitely huge! Also, during their arrest, items worth DH150m were seized, including cash, 21 laptops, five external hard drives, 15 flash drives, 47 smartphones and 13 luxury cars. In fact, 800,000 email accounts of potential cybercrime victims were recovered. Based on the information provided, the activities of the group included hacking corporate emails, sending deceitful emails to clients of the hacked emails to redirect financial transactions to their own bank accounts.
Unfortunately, Hushpuppi and his gang had most of their victims in the United States and in other parts of the developed world.
This is coming months after the Forbes-featured Chief Executive Officer of Invictus Group, Obiwanne Okeke, was also arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United Kingdom on multiple charges of cybercrime and fraud worth $11m. His arrest was similarly fast-tracked by details got through social media, including his Instagram page, after a 13-month investigation.
Another popular cybercrime suspect arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Nigeria is Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompa. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of Ismalob Global Investment Limited. The EFCC charged Mompha on multiple counts of fraud, money laundering and operation of foreign exchange business without authorisation.
While everything moral is against the actions of cybercriminals, it is strange to find that people are still divided on the morality of cybercrime. Some still attempt to justify cybercrime using the economic situation in Nigeria and the high rate of unemployment. Sadly, some others claim that cybercrime targeted at the international community is justifiable, to make up for decades of Africans’ enslavement in the hands of the colonial masters.
While this view is flawed in many respects, the most obvious is that there is no strong justification for cybercrime in the face of the law in Nigeria and other countries. In contrast, there is a rather serious penalty for those charged with cybercrime ranging from imprisonment to confiscation properties. For instance, Hushpuppi and Okeke are facing jail terms of between 15 to 20 years each, while Mompha is still in court and is likely to face the same penalty.
In Nigeria today, a lot of people have fallen victim to cyber criminals and have their whole lives ruined. Sometime ago, a man, who was reportedly duped of N15m, slumped and died on the spot. Few months back, a businessman was scammed millions of naira meant for his business. This man even took a bank loan to augment the amount needed to get the machineries and goods. After he got duped, he lost his assets, including his shop, house and cars. Now, he has nothing to fall back to and his health is fast deteriorating. Some other victims of these fraudulent acts have been incapacitated financially and health-wise, with no hope of getting back to their feet.
Individuals have lost money, businesses, homes, families, intellectual property and other assets to cybercriminals. Even the government has incurred huge financial losses as a result of cybercrime. This goes a long way to prove that there is absolutely no justification for such crimes.
In addition, cybercrimes perpetrated internationally have negatively influenced the perception of Nigerians and other Africans on the world stage. It has resulted in loss of confidence and trust in Nigerians when it comes to transacting businesses online. On freelance fora where people come to pitch their services such as writing, coding and designing, international clients now refrain from working with Nigerians because they pre-empt that every Nigerian is a fraudster.
In the international job market, Nigerians in the diaspora have also difficulty in getting a job as a result of the tainted image of Nigerians. Even those who get a job say their identity is used against them, when something misses or spoils.
Nigerians are being associated with negative actions as a result of the media foregrounding of Nigerian or African cyber criminals.
Cybercrime has destroyed the reputation of Nigeria, particularly stifling the progress of start-ups, small and medium-sized businesses and, at the same time, discouraging foreign investors.
In recent times, Nigeria is experiencing a surge in the perpetration of cybercrimes, the most common causes of which is the high rate of unemployment and the quest to get rich quickly. Now, the rate at which cybercrime is spreading is alarming and there is need to take drastic action against criminals and proffer solutions to the immediate causes.
Going forward, there should be more stringent penalties against such fraudsters as a deterrent. The government should also provide more job opportunities for Nigerian youths or at least encourage and support budding entrepreneurs. Earning legitimate money and being true to one’s self is the best way to live life. Looking at the lives of the likes of Hushpuppi, Okeke and Mompha, it becomes obvious that resorting to illegal means is not beneficial for the individual, the society or the world at large.
