Cyber Criminals on the Prowl, NIG Expresses Worry

The activities of cyber criminals otherwise known as Yahoo Yahoo are taking a dangerous dimension which if not abated are capable of isolating Nigeria from the global economy, Nigeria Communications Week can now disclose.
Nigerian youths have embraced the internet as an easy way of making money by sending out fraudulent information to unsuspecting recipients with the aim of defrauding them. This development has affected the psyche of the average youth in the country that sees the internet as an easy way to make wealth.
The effort of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) established by the federal government to fight financial crimes seems to have shifted to corrupt politicians and fraudulent bank executives while Yahoo Yahoo Boys continue to smile to the banks.
Part of the reasons why the illegal business thrives is lack of awareness on how the youths can use the internet positively to create wealth.
Engr. Lanre Ajayi, president Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) said there is alternative use of the internet rather than for fraudulent purposes. His organization launched the Internet for Job (I4J) initiative to sensitize the Nigerian youths on the positive use of the internet to create wealth but he says government has more roles to play in the sensitization process having more financial capacity, institutional framework and empowerment possibilities.  
Yahoo Boys have the basic intellect and can be refocused to be responsible citizens. The right and enabling environment need to be created,   the right IT infrastructure where people can share useful information set in place. If people realize they can make more money by using the internet positively they are likely to turn away from their bad ways thereby helping to create entrepreneurs among the Nigerian youths.