In the real sense, Yahoo is an American internet company that provides free email and other services for internet users across the world and the term “yahoo” was localized in Nigeria in the early 2000s as refer name for internet fraud. Internet fraud, according to Wikipedia, is a type of cybercrime fraud or deception that makes use of the internet and could involve hiding information or providing incorrect information to trick victims out of money, property, and inheritance.
Yahoo-Yahoo is the use of internet services or software with internet access to defraud victims or to otherwise take advantage of them. Internet crime schemes steal millions of dollars each year from victims and continue to plague the internet through various methods. Currently, over 50% of Nigerian youth make money from Yahoo business or another scamming method though everything is still the same thing because all they do is to scam people especially foreigners online.
Although Yahoo or internet fraud comes in numerous methods that include romance scam, identity theft, hacking, money laundry scams, and other methods which is also know as illegal side hustle, currently love scam is the most popular internet fraud method. Most of these scamming methods are called latest format. This perfidy has become a way of life for many young Nigerians. The worrisome part is that teenagers-little children in secondary schools are being recruited daily into this criminal venture. Tertiary institutions have become breeding centres for internet criminals. Children sent to school to study are now living in hotels working as cyber fraudsters, defrauding people, driving exotic cars and living large on campus. They are not studying but ‘sorting’, bribing lecturers to pass. They only come into the campus with a convoy once in a while to show off.
The clampdown on Internet fraudsters by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in-group conflict among yahoo boys over social recognition, reduced victimisation and delayed success, and mass media enlightenment were reported factors influencing the fusion of spiritual elements in cyber crime. which is now called Yahoo plus.
The methods used by Yahoo plus include ase or mayehun (incontrovertible order), charmed or magical rings (oruka-ere) and incisions made around the wrist, which are used to surf the net, while ijapa (tortoise) is used to navigate profitable sites. Unsuspecting victims fall under the spell of the ase via phone conversation where spiritual orders are made to the victims without their objecting.
HOW DO YOU RECOGNIZE THEM?
Most times it’s easy to recognize them. They are everywhere in every neighbourhood and can easily be identified. They are young, very young; most of them wear dreadlocks and sagging pants. They congregate in small groups and make so much noise in bars, hotels and apartments.
They smoke shisha and abuse drugs and substances like cocaine, tramadol, cough syrup, S.K. and loud among others. They enjoy the company of skimpy dressing young girls who hail and edge them on. They celebrate their ‘wins’ by throwing wasps of Naira notes on the streets. They are now audacious. They are criminals, fraudsters and scammers. They are Yahoo Boys.
This is spreading like wild fire among the youths and even the girls are now getting involved. The Nigerian image has already been badly injured and allowing this syndrome to inflict more injury is like placing a curse on this nation.
FACTORS INFLUENCING THE INCREASE RATE OF YAHOO YAHOO.
- Lack of family values
Values supposedly learned within a traditional family unit, typically those of high moral standards and discipline. Family values involve all the ideas of how a family exists and functions, and they are often passed down from previous generations. They include social, moral, religious, economic, and political principles that a family holds as important and believe in. It is sad to say that most parents in this generation have failed. Imaging a situation where some mother’s encourage their children to go into yahoo and also help them with spiritual support what do u expect from such children. we now have association of yahoo mothers in some part of Lagos and Ogun state.
- High rate of corruption in the Nation
The level of corruption generally from leadership level to every citizen is so high that no more integrity, sincerity, hard work, diligence, empathy and patience. leaders rig elections, use people for rituals, take bribe, embezzle in office etc. So, these are the yardstick and new normal for success in the society now. Most of the teens and youth were given birth to in era of terrible corruption. So they can’t really see any reason why they have to be a patriotic citizen Some will even tell you that what is the gain of diligence and hard work in this country.
- High unemployment
It is no longer a story that Nigeria is one of the countries that have the highest rate of unemployment in the world currently, lack of a job is one of the main reasons why most Nigerians youth go into Yahoo business, although it is not a good reason because they are not the only one. There are millions of Nigerian youth that create jobs for themselves without waiting for the government to help them with jobs or any benefits from the government, even though there’s numerous articles on the internet that teach How to become a yahoo boy.
- Quest for wealth
The rate at which young people crave for wealth is alarming. Before riches is gradual and dignifying. The make money quick syndrome is crazy due to unnecessary demand from family and society. If you’re not rich, you are not recognized in your family, among friends and even in churches and mosque. We only celebrate the rich irrespective of how it is gotten. We no longer celebrate diligence and sincerity. I remember those days when we were young, if anyone steals or rob and he’s caught by the security agencies. They Will bring the person to the father’s compound and shoot him there. So parents were always warning their children not to bring shame to them unlike now that everything is turned upside down.
- Poor implementation of cybercrime laws.
The world of cyber crime is more complicated. There are too many cybersecurity incidents and too little law enforcement resources available to keep up with the crime. If when some of them are arrested, they arrested, they will still bribe their way through. They funny thing is that the so called SARS arrest them just to collect money from them.
- Negative role models
substantial number of studies have shown us that humans learn through modelling others. As these experiences accumulate through adolescence, teens decide what socially acceptable behaviour is and what is not. They also learn strategies for achieving their goals.
The kind of people celebrated in the society also influences the rate crime. A situation where people of questionable character are celebrated in our society and even in religious organizations and academic environment what do you expect. Youths don’t see the reason why he or she has to live right when the ones celebrated are people living terrible lifestyle
- Technology era
Abuse of technology especially social media has worsen the case, because a lot of show off and display of wealth by celebrities and Yahoo boys even encourage the younger ones to join. Now a lot of herbalist now advertise online for people to patronize them.
WAY OUT
Honestly, it’s only God that can help us out in this problem, but I will just say a few ways I feel can help reduce these Yahoo thing.
1. Mind set
NGOs and religious organizations need to continue to organize events and seminars to change the mind set of our teenagers. Their mind sets determines the approach they adopt toward achieving goals. They have *growth mind sets –* when they see themselves as active learners and achievers who accomplish goals through hard work and perseverance. With this type of mind set, youth strive to achieve their best selves. And they look toward adults to show them the way, there by having positive role models
They have *prevention mind set* – When youth approach life with a desire to prevent or avoid disasters and negative outcomes, they are more likely to gravitate toward role models who will help them learn avoidance strategies. These strategies might include cheating on tests, scamming or using drugs and alcohol to escape life challenges.
2. Parenting
Nigerian parents should teach their children in the way of the Lord, so that they won’t be involved in anything illegal especially when it comes to stealing from someone else. They need to make children understand that there are consequences for all actions. So many parents don’t even have proper understanding of life and consequences. You cannot give what you don’t have. If your child knows that you will not support his evil actions, he will not be too confident to get involved in dubious act. The society need more training and counselling on parenting. I think parenting should be included in marriage seminars for intending couples
3. Emotional Intelligence
I feel emotional and social intelligence courses should be included in school curriculum. Emotional intelligence (otherwise known as emotional quotient or EQ) is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict. Empathy, self respect, Self-awareness, self management, relationship management, Motivation and Social skills. EQ will make a child think about other people’s feelings, pause and strive to control his thoughts, demonstrate empathy and also praise others. This will help reduce all form of toxic nature of crime and also bullying in our school because a bully will eventually become a killer if not properly handled .
4. Implementation of cyber laws
Government should ensure that cyber crime laws are formulated and strictly adhered to. The law enforcement agencies should be adequately equipped and they should also make arrest of offenders without compromise of any sort, then there will be progress in eradication of yahoo yahoo.
5. Personal and organization awareness
The effects of cybercrimes on individual, organizations, and the country in general include reducing the competitive edge of organizations, waste of production time and damage to the image of the country. With Nigeria venturing into cashless society, there is a need for cybercrimes menace to be minimized if not completely eradicated. One of the ways of combating such crimes include taking reasonable steps to protect ones property by ensuring that firms protect their IT infrastructure like Networks and computer systems.
In conclusion, citizens in general should report any case to NGOs whose focus covers such issues who will then bring the case to the police. That way, the person who made the report is first protected until investigations into the matter are completed. But most importantly, citizens should begin to take it upon themselves to report suspicious activities and suspicious persons to the police early on as a pre-emptive call-to-action.
Let change begin with you as an individual. Be a good model to your children and also to the young ones in your locality, by your way of life so many lives can be transformed. And lastly let’s keep praying for all our children, teenagers and youths.
Meet the facilitator: Mrs Ibiwumi Asake is a Teens counselor of over 20 years of experience. She is the Director of Emerging Noble Royalties Initiative, an NGO that mentors teens and youth. She is happily Married and blessed with 3 biological children and hundreds of children across the globe.
