On Friday, a Nigerian court sentenced 15 foreign nationals, all of whom are Asian, to prison for "cyber-terrorism and internet fraud," according to the national anti-graft agency. This case is one of the largest of its kind in the country.
The group, which includes eleven Filipinos, two Chinese, one Malaysian, and one Indonesian, received one-year prison sentences and fines of one million naira (approximately $630) each in Lagos, the commercial capital, after pleading guilty, as reported by Dele Oyewale, spokesman for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They were charged with recruiting young Nigerians for identity theft and impersonating individuals of foreign nationality. Oyewale also noted that the judges ordered the confiscation of the devices seized from the convicts, which will be forfeited to the federal government of Nigeria.
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, has gained notoriety for internet fraudsters commonly referred to in local slang as "Yahoo Boys." The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered numerous locations where young criminals are trained in various scams. Cybercrime experts caution that international "cybercrime syndicates" have established operations in Nigeria, taking advantage of the country's inadequate cybersecurity measures. According to the EFCC, these foreign gangs enlist Nigerian partners to identify victims online through phishing scams, where attackers typically attempt to trick individuals into transferring money or disclosing sensitive information, such as passwords.
According to the agency, the scams primarily target individuals from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. In December, the EFCC conducted a major operation in the wealthy Victoria Island district of Lagos, resulting in the arrest of 792 suspects. Among those apprehended, at least 192 were foreign nationals, including 148 from China. Additionally, several other Chinese suspects are currently facing trial for similar offenses.
