A Nigerian court on Friday sentenced fifteen foreign nationals, all of Asian descent, to prison for “cyber-terrorism and internet fraud,” according to Nigeria’s anti-graft agency.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) spokesman, Dele Oyewale, stated that eleven Filipinos, two Chinese, one Malaysian, and one Indonesian each received a one-year jail term and a fine of one million naira (approximately $630) in Lagos after admitting guilt.
The convicted individuals were accused of enlisting young Nigerians for “identity theft” and to impersonate foreign nationals online.
Oyewale added that the court ordered the confiscation of the devices seized from the convicts by the Nigerian federal government.
Nigeria, known as Africa’s most populous nation, has a significant issue with internet fraudsters, locally referred to as “Yahoo Boys.”
The EFCC has conducted numerous raids on locations where young individuals learn these fraudulent activities.
Cybersecurity experts have also raised concerns about foreign “cybercrime syndicates” establishing operations within Nigeria to take advantage of its vulnerable cybersecurity infrastructure.
The EFCC reported that these foreign gangs recruit Nigerian accomplices to identify victims online through phishing scams, which typically involve deceiving individuals into transferring money or revealing sensitive data like passwords.
The agency noted that these scams primarily target individuals in America, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
In December, the EFCC apprehended 792 suspects in a single operation in the upscale Victoria Island area of Lagos, with at least 192 being foreign nationals, including 148 Chinese citizens.
Numerous other Chinese suspects are currently facing similar charges in ongoing trials.