A Critical Investigation Of The Causes Of Students’ Indulgence In Internet Fraud (A Perspective Of University Students In Lagos State)

A Critical Investigation Of The Causes Of Students’ Indulgence In Internet Fraud (A Perspective Of University Students In Lagos State)

Abstract

This study was carried out to analysis of the causes of students’ indulgence in internet fraud (a perspective of university students in Lagos state) using Students of University of Lagos as a case study. The study is was specifically set to examine the types of Internet fraud in the Nigerian society, examine the negative effects of Internet fraud on Nigerian society, examine the level of awareness of students about Internet fraud, determine the reasons why Internet fraud is mostly rampant among Nigerian youths, and discuss the possible solutions of Internet fraud affecting the Nigerian society. The survey design was adopted and the simple random sampling techniques were employed in this study. The population size comprise of computer science students of University of Lagos. In determining the sample size, the researcher conveniently selected 229 respondents and 210 were validated. Self-constructed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The collected and validated questionnaires were analyzed using frequency tables and mean scores. While the hypotheses were tested using Chi-square statistical tool. The result of the findings reveals that the types of Internet fraud in the Nigerian society includes: hacking, credit card fraud, software piracy, cyber identity theft. The result of the findings reveals that the negative effects of Internet fraud on Nigerian society includes: poor quality of graduates produced, Cyber Bullying, Economic melt down, defamation of nations. Therefore, it is recommended that the school authority should collaborate with parents to counsel and educate students on the effects on their engagement in Internet fraud on their academic performance. The school can establish guidance and counseling unit in the school to give counseling to culprits within the school in various forms and also teach them morals. To mention but a few.

Table of Content

• Title Page
• Certification
• Dedication
• Acknowledgement
• Table of Content
• List of Tables
• Abstract

Chapter One:

Introduction

• 1.1 Background of the Study
• 1.2 Statement of the Problem
• 1.3 Objective of the Study
• 1.4 Research Questions
• 1.5 Research Hypothesis
• 1.6 Significance of the Study
• 1.7 Scope of the Study
• 1.8 Limitation of the Study
• 1.9 Definition of Terms
• 1.10 Organisations of the Study

Chapter Two:

Review of Literature

• 2.1 Conceptual Framework
• 2.2 Theoretical Framework
• 2.3 Empirical Review

Chapter Three:

Research Methodology

• 3.1 Research Design
• 3.2 Population of the Study
• 3.3 Sample Size Determination
• 3.4 Sample Size Selection Technique and Procedure
• 3.5 Research Instrument and Administration
• 3.6 Method of Data Collection
• 3.7 Method of Data Analysis
• 3.8 Validity of the Study
• 3.9 Reliability of the Study
• 3.10 Ethical Consideration

Chapter Four:

Data Presentation and Analysis

• 4.1 Data Presentation
• 4.2 Analysis of Data
• 4.3 Answering Research Questions
• 4.4 Test of Hypotheses

Chapter Five:

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

• 5.1 Summary
• 5.2 Conclusion
• 5.3 Recommendation
• References
• APPENDIX
• QUESTIONNAIRE

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Youth engagement in horrible crimes such as cybercrime, cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape and sexual abuse, and other vices is all too widespread and causes concern. Campuses at our universities have become safe havens or dens, albeit nests where students engage in a variety of illicit activities (Ninalowo, 2004).

According to Reddick & King, (2000), Hacking, unauthorized and illegal access to bank accounts, identity theft, phishing, spoofing, unauthorized reading of emails, desktop counterfeiting, pornography, cyber harassment, fraudulent conversion of property, chat room conspiracy, sending computer virus, plagiarism, phreaking, and downloading unauthorized data are all common cyber crimes committed by students. Internet fraud is one of them (Okesola, FB and Adeta, AK, 2013).
Oyebade (2019), explained that Internet fraud can be defined as the use of Internet services or software with Internet connection to deceive or otherwise exploit victims. Internet crime schemes steal millions of dollars from victims each year and continue to plague the Internet through a variety of tactics. Business fraud, credit card fraud, internet auction fraud, investment schemes, Nigerian letter fraud, and non-delivery of items are all common types of Internet fraud. In Nigeria, perpetrators of internet fraud use the internet’s e-commerce infrastructure to swindle victims, who are primarily foreigners, out of thousands, if not millions, of dollars. They falsely describe themselves as having certain things to sell or as being involved in a loan scheme enterprise. Many people have been deceived or become victims (Ninalowo, 2004).

Internet fraud, like any other criminal crime, has risen by leaps and bounds in Nigeria, gaining more souls from partner agencies that now contribute to the successful execution of Internet fraud. Many Nigerian university students have accepted Internet fraud as a way of life (Reddick, & King, 2000). Many of them have become wealthy, while others have been apprehended by the authorities. Internet fraud has infiltrated Nigerian society, with youths leading the charge. More people have been convicted of different Internet offenses in Nigeria, according to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), while others are still being tried in courts around the country (EFCC, 2019). Evidently, educated youngsters benefit from superior preparation, execution, and organization when it comes to Internet fraud. Most of these perpetrators are students of tertiary institutions. Students flaunt a lot of cash, which they flaunt everywhere, including school campuses. Most are without sources of income or parental support, but live a flamboyant lifestyle in and out of campus. Students from low-income families who want to be a part of or measure up to the children of the privileged look for a quick way to get money in order to obtain the status symbol. This leads to kids who have yet to graduate from university, much alone find a job, ride in exotic cars, wear the latest fashion clothes, expensive jewelry, and date the most beautiful babes in town while lavishly throwing parties at which expensive wines are guzzled. Some of the causes of students getting involved in cyber crimes are: Unemployment, Quest for wealth, Premature marriage, Age, relaxed cyber security laws, incompetent security personnels etc.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Factors like loss of societal values, peer pressure, loss of home values, financial constraint, schools, churches and mosque are some of the causes why youths/students get involved in cyber criminality. Regrettably, some students have graduated from the world of cybercrime (Oyebade 2019). They are currently involved in what is now known as Yahoo Plus. This entails ritual killings as well as the use of charms to hypnotize target victims. People have been accused of taking underwear for ritual purposes. This has led to Students becoming deviant and arrogantly hostile to their professors and non-teaching personnel, and occasionally openly challenging the management of their schools, blinded by their sudden and unexpected prosperity. Some of them are also snobs who cannot associate or live quietly with their colleagues. This has a negative impact on their academic performance. Ithis has led to the loss of body parts and precious lives when victims are maimed or gruesomely murdered for ceremonial purposes by students seeking’spiritual or diabolic power.’
The unchecked involvement of youngsters and students in cybercrime and other sorts of financial crime is harming Nigeria’s reputation and mocking the country in the international community. This study seeks to identify the causes of students indulgence in cyber crimes and how to checkmate it (Oyebade 2019).

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The primary objective of this study is to critically investigate the causes of Students’ indulgence in Internet Fraud. Other aims of this study are:

1. To examine the types of Internet fraud in the Nigerian society.
2. To examine the negative effects of Internet fraud on Nigerian society.
3. To examine the level of awareness of students about Internet fraud.
4. To determine the reasons why Internet fraud is mostly rampant among Nigerian youths.
5. To discuss the possible solutions of Internet fraud affecting the Nigerian society.

1.4 Research Questions

The study will be guided by the following questions;

1. What are the types of Internet fraud in the Nigerian society?
2. To examine the negative effects of Internet fraud on Nigerian society?
3. What is the level of awareness of students about Internet fraud?
4. What are the reasons why Internet fraud is mostly rampant among Nigerian youths?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

• Ho: Internet fraud has no significant negative effect on the society.
• Ha: Internet fraud has a significant negative effect on the society.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study will be significant to the education sector as the results of this finding will show the causes, effects, factors responsible and possible solutions to this problem.

It will also be beneficial to the Nigerian government as it enable them put in place policies that will effectively combat this scourge.

Finally, this study will be important to scholars as it will serve as existing material for further research and future referencing.

1.7 Scope of the Study

This study will cover this research topic “A critical investigation of the causes of Students’ indulgence in Internet Fraud. It will also look at the factors, effects and possible solutions to internet fraud. This study will be using students of University of Lagos as a case study.

1.8 Limitations of the Study

This study will be limited to the topic “A critical investigation of the causes of Students’ indulgence in Internet Fraud. It will also be limited to students of the University of Lagos thus the results of this study cannot be used any where else until further research is carried out. This study was also limited due to time constraints as we could not effectively cover all the departments in the University.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Critical:

Expressing or involving an analysis of the merits and faults of a work

Investigation:

The action of investigating something or someone; formal or systematic examination or research.

Indulgence:

The action or fact of indulging

Internet Fraud:

The use of Internet services or software with Internet access to defraud victims or to otherwise take advantage of them.

1.10 Organization of the Study

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows.

• Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study.
• Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature.
• Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study.
• Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.
• Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

Chapter Five

Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations:

5.1 Introduction

This chapter summarizes the findings on critical investigation of the causes of students’ indulgence in internet fraud (a perspective of university students in Lagos state) using Students of University of Lagos as a case study. The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.

5.2 Summary of the Study

In this study, our focus was on critical investigation of the causes of students’ indulgence in internet fraud (a perspective of university students in Lagos state) using Students of University of Lagos as a case study. The study is was specifically carried out to examine the types of Internet fraud in the Nigerian society, examine the negative effects of Internet fraud on Nigerian society, examine the level of awareness of students about Internet fraud, determine the reasons why Internet fraud is mostly rampant among Nigerian youths, and discuss the possible solutions of Internet fraud affecting the Nigerian society.

The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 210 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are computer science students of University of Lagos.

5.3 Conclusion

Based on the findings of this study, the researcher concluded that;

1. The types of Internet fraud in the Nigerian society includes: hacking, credit card fraud, software piracy, cyber identity theft.
2. The negative effects of Internet fraud on Nigerian society includes: poor quality of graduates produced, Cyber Bullying, Economic melt down, defamation of nations.
3. The level of awareness of students about Internet fraud is high.
4. The reasons why Internet fraud is mostly rampant among Nigerian youths includes: Get-Rich-Quick syndrome, poverty, societal recognition/fame, pressure from peers and family.

5.4 Recommendations

Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are proffered.

1. Schools’ must include courses on Internet fraud to manage and educate students on the effect of Internet fraud on their studies.
2. National Cyber Security Awareness Program (NCSAP) should endeavour to sponsor media (internet, radio and television) to strengthen and intensify education through awareness creation in order to have Internet fraud free society since these are the students‘ common source of knowledge on Internet fraud with focus on the youth which includes senior high students. This can educate the public on the act, effects and other consequences of Internet fraud to every citizen found anywhere in the community, school, mosques, churches and homes.
3. The school authority should collaborate with parents to counsel and educate students on the effects on their engagement in Internet fraud on their academic performance. The school can establish guidance and counseling unit in the school to give counseling to culprits within the school in various forms and also teach them morals.
4. The justice system must come out with policies to deal with all matters relating to Internet fraud by establishment of Internet fraud courts in the country to prosecute cybercriminals and parents who do not take good care of their children by allowing them engage is such crime. They should also encourage more people to take up courses on cyber law and cybersecurity in a form of scholarship especially lawyers and judges within the justice system.

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