Cybercrime among Undergraduate Students: Problems and Solutions. A Case Study of Nigeria

Cybercrime encompasses criminal activities carried out by means of computers or the internet, and indeed there’s an upsurge of cybercrime in Nigeria, as the internet has created several platforms such as social media, e-commerce, and dating sites via which individuals target victims, and engage in cybercrimes. Research indicates that undergraduate students in Nigeria engage in, and are affected by cybercrime. This study was carried out to investigate cybercrime among undergraduate students in Nigeria, specifically, the types of cybercrimes affecting students, the contributing factors, and the implications for victims and society. This study employed qualitative methods, utilizing secondary data through a comprehensive review of existing literature. The findings revealed that personal information theft, phishing, online financial fraud, credit card fraud, auction or online shopping fraud, cyberbullying, online stalking, ransom ware and malware attacks are the types of cybercrime affecting undergraduate students in Nigeria. The factors contributing to cybercrime among undergraduate students were youth unemployment and poverty, urbanization, quest for quick wealth, peer pressure, lack of sanctions and corruption in law enforcement agencies, and lack of cyber-awareness and knowledge. Research findings also found that there are no existing recommendations or guidelines related to understanding the severity of the experiences faced by victims of cybercrime in Nigeria. The study’s result emphasizes the grave problem of cybercrime among Nigerian undergraduate students. The results highlight the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address this issue and deter students from it. The study’s conclusions also add to the body of knowledge already available about the phenomena.