{"id":215159,"date":"2022-01-31T17:07:48","date_gmt":"2022-01-31T15:07:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/covid-419-how-cybercriminals-in-nigeria-exploited-schemes-to-help-people-in-need\/"},"modified":"2022-01-31T17:07:48","modified_gmt":"2022-01-31T15:07:48","slug":"covid-419-how-cybercriminals-in-nigeria-exploited-schemes-to-help-people-in-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/covid-419-how-cybercriminals-in-nigeria-exploited-schemes-to-help-people-in-need\/","title":{"rendered":"‘COVID-419’: how cybercriminals in Nigeria exploited schemes to help people in need"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The COVID-19 pandemic, with its lockdown<\/a> and social isolation, has added to the vulnerability of many Nigerians in several ways. Aside from health risks and disruption to livelihoods, the move from physical to virtual relationships heightened the exposure of people to cybercriminals.<\/p>\n

The pandemic has changed the landscape of cybercrime in the country. The government\u2019s social and welfare interventions<\/a>, to cushion the impact of the pandemic, presented an opportunity for fraudsters to take advantage of vulnerable people.<\/p>\n

These palliative interventions included food distribution, cash transfers and loan repayment relief.<\/p>\n

In addition, with social distancing and restrictions on movement, people have been doing more online. This exposed them more to cybercriminals.<\/p>\n

I undertook a study<\/a> to examine how COVID-19-induced interventions in Nigeria had been exploited by criminals. My research explored which government policies had created opportunities for fraud, what fraud strategies were used, and how this victimisation could be prevented. <\/p>\n

My data came from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission<\/a>, the Nigerian Police and the Central Bank of Nigeria<\/a>. I also received examples of fraud schemes from a professional WhatsApp group and from students of criminology.<\/p>\n

I found that lack of clearly defined parameters and beneficiaries of Nigeria\u2019s palliative schemes created loopholes for cybercriminals. I\u2019ve called their strategies \u201cCOVID-419\u201d \u2013 a term combining the names of the coronavirus disease and section 419<\/a> of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act, which deals with fraud. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to understand how cybercriminals adapt to changing circumstances and what strategies they use, so that more harm can be prevented. <\/p>\n

Context of COVID-419 cybercrimes<\/h2>\n

The social context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria helps explain how it presents opportunities to fraudsters. A large percentage \u2013 65%<\/a> \u2013 of the population works in the informal sector. It contributes about 50%<\/a> of the country\u2019s gross domestic product.<\/p>\n

People working in the informal sector are heavily dependent on human interaction. They also rely heavily on public transport. <\/p>\n

Lockdown measures had a devastating impact. As a result citizens appealed for help<\/a>. In response, government formulated policies on palliatives<\/a> to be given to the vulnerable. A Presidential Task Force<\/a> on COVID-19 was also set up to coordinate distribution of the palliatives. <\/p>\n

They included:<\/p>\n