Cybercrime Activities and the Emergence of Yahoo Boys in Nigeria

Yahoo-Yahoo, a form of cybercrime among the youth, is a major problem in modern Nigerian society. Numerous people have seen their fortunes eroded by this scourge, and the country’s standing among other nations continues to suffer from reputational damage. Addressing this problem requires unbundling its root causes. Therefore, explore youth’s motivations for cybercrime activities and the emergence of Yahoo-Boys in Nigeria. An online survey through an electronic questionnaire was administered to various respondents across Nigeria in gathering data for the study. A total of 110 questionnaire were returned completed from the online survey. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analysing the data. The results showed that unemployment (b = 0.153; p < 0.01) laziness (b = 0.158; p <.028), greed (b = 0.199; p < 0.11) and peer influence (b = 0.185; p < 0.34) are significant factors responsible for cybercrime activities among Nigerian youths. The paper recommends that relevant agencies of government, civil society organisations as well as parents and religious leaders should increase the level of sensitization on the implications of engaging in cybercrimes. Government should also cushion the impact of economic hardship and provide employment opportunities for the idle teeming youths.