THE MENACE OF FRAUD-BASED CYBERCRIME AND NIGERIA’S GLOBAL CYBERSECURITY PROFILE

Abstract

Amid escalating global concerns over cybercrime, Nigeria’s digital space has emerged as both a site of innovation and a center of fraudulent practices associated with “Yahoo Boys,” posing serious implications for its global reputation. This study investigates the relationship between cyberfraud and Nigeria’s cybersecurity profile between 2015 and 2024, employing Kenneth Boulding’s Image Theory of International Relations (1959) as a theoretical framework. Using an explanatory research design, it applies a mixed-methods approach, combining Key Informant Interviews (KII) with secondary data drawn from official reports, scholarly works, and media sources. Content analysis highlights thematic connections between Nigeria’s cybersecurity performance and the persistence of cyber fraud. Findings reveal a paradox: Nigeria’s Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) improved significantly from 0.441 in 2015 to 84.76 in 2020, before experiencing a slight decline in 2024. Despite this progress, Nigeria’s global image remains overshadowed by fraud-based cybercrime, as reflected in its recurring presence in the FBI’s IC3 complaints and the 2024 World Cybercrime Index. The study recommends enhanced collaboration across government, private, and community actors for intelligence sharing, the integration of digital literacy and ethics in education, improved law enforcement capacity, and the modernization of cybercrime legislation to align with international frameworks.