- Study for UK Home Office maps the many factors behind widespread scam activity emanating from West Africa.
- In some West African communities, involvement in internet fraud is considered normal and an acceptable vocation.
- Rare and original insights lead to suggestions for possible solutions.
A University of Portsmouth led study could help to inform the development of policy and interventions to reduce the risk of people falling prey to online and telephone scams.
A global team of cyber security experts, commissioned by itad on behalf of the UK Home Office , has explored the factors driving individuals in Ghana and Nigeria to commit online fraud.
Cyberfraud has become one of the most common crimes that people and organisations experience, with over 75 million adults per year falling victim. Although there are scammers located all over the world, by far the most significant number, targeting high-income countries like the UK, are in the West African countries of Ghana and Nigeria.
The research, which has been published in the European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research , offers rare and original insights into the scale of active fraudsters and their wider support in Ghana and Nigeria. The findings are based on interviews with active fraudsters, law enforcement officials, government officials, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from the two countries, as well as in victim countries.
Before policy options can be determined, it is important to understand what is driving people to commit fraud and our research serves to do that by mapping the many factors pushing young people - mainly males - into these crimes
Professor Mark Button, Director of the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime at the University of Portsmouth
Lead author, Professor Mark Button , from the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Director of the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime at the University of Portsmouth, said: "Governments in wealthy, first world countries have the powers to create policies and legislation to target criminals in their own countries but when the offenders are based in less developed and, in some cases, less co-operative countries, their ability to tackle the issue is limited. Before policy options can be determined, it is important to understand what is driving people to commit fraud and our research serves to do that by mapping the many factors pushing young people - mainly males - into these crimes."
Through their study the research team found that in areas of West Africa, involvement in fraud in some communities is considered a normal and almost respectable vocation - much like being a builder, for example.
Additionally, a project run in schools and universities to educate participants that fraud and corruption were wrong found that many students did not realise engaging in cybercrime could lead to criminal consequences. Because cybercrime does not involve seeing or meeting the victim, many perpetrators saw nothing wrong in what they do.
Involvement in fraud can stem from organised groups to smaller groups and networks, as well as individuals. However, individuals working alone are often in internet cafes, occupied by many other fraudsters who share knowledge and cooperate in loose associations.
Factors leading to online fraud activity
In the study, the research team identified that the factors enabling online fraud in the two West African countries are:
- Conformity: the elements of social control (from parents, schools, religious institutions and the police) that in most societies would push young people away from fraud, are turning them towards committing fraud.
- Confraternities: these secretive groups originated from universities and have since expanded into wider Nigerian society.
- Colonialism: perpetrators believe it is acceptable to commit crimes against countries associated with this as they believe they are taking back from those who took away from their grandfathers and grandmothers.
- Corruption: dishonesty and exploitation at the top of society serves to rationalise committing fraud.
- Economic pressure: high youth unemployment and many people living in poverty.
- Parents: examples were found of young people being given clear encouragement and direction to engage in fraud.
- Religion: scammers actively use the priests of their native religions not only to endorse their activities, but also to increase victim compliance.
- Wealthy role models: young boys and men, on low incomes or who cannot find work, look up to successful fraudsters and want to follow their example.
- Popular culture: West African musicians often glamorise internet scammers and their associated industries. Some are involved in, and profit from, fraud.
Considerations for policy makers
Education and awareness of what constitutes criminal acts and the consequences for both victims and offenders could be effective in deterring young people from becoming fraudsters. The paper says this would need to be clearly integrated into the educational and broader social structures (schools, colleges, universities, churches, mosques, etc.) of West African society.
The researchers also argue it is essential to improve formal social control and make the scammers realise there is a real chance of some form of sanction occurring against them if they commit the crime. This would require greater enforcement and should involve criminal prosecutions in the offenders' countries and, in the most serious cases, the victims' countries. Indications of a collaboration like this are emerging, with the recent UK-Nigeria agreement ( UK Government, 2025 ).
"Our study has helped to recommend some ideas which could be developed to tackle this significant problem," added Professor Button. "First and foremost, central to any strategy to combat scams arising from these countries would be taking action to improve economic development and tackle corruption. With a stronger economic base, increased education and better formal social control, through prosecutions, scam activity could be reduced, and criminals could be brought to justice."
