Artificial Intelligence in Cybercrime: A West African Perspective on the Evolution of “Yahoo Yahoo”

This paper examines the evolution of the cybercrime phenomenon known as "Yahoo Yahoo" in West Africa, focusing on how it has advanced with the proliferation of artificial intelligence to enhance its capabilities. The study reviews various literature on cybercrime and, using a mixed-method approach, combines quantitative analysis to gauge public awareness of AI-related cybercrime with qualitative insights from interviews with threat intelligence experts across West Africa. These interviews explore how AI is used to enhance cybercrime, the tools and techniques employed, the challenges faced in combating AI-driven cybercrime, and recommendations for prevention. The paper concludes with strategic recommendations for staying ahead of this emerging threat. Keywords: Cybercrime, Yahoo Yahoo, Artificial intelligence, Scam, evolution Proceedings Citation Format Ayodele Oluwatobi & Peter Joy Abosede (2024): Artificial Intelligence in Cybercrime: A West African Perspective on the Evolution of Yahoo Yahoo. Proceedings of the Cyber Secure Nigeria Conference held at The Ballroom Center, Central Business District, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria - 25th - 26th September, 2024. Pp 23-34. https://cybersecurenigeria.org/conference-proceedings/volume-1-2024/ dx.doi.org/10.22624/AIMS/CSEAN-SMART2024P2