An Evaluation Of The Causes, Implication And Solution To Internet Fraud Among Nigerian Students

Project and Seminar Material for Education

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine the causes, implication and solution to internet fraud among Nigerian students using University of Port-harcourt as a case study. The study is was specifically set to ascertain the prevalence of internet fraud among Nigerian students, identify the causes of internet fraud among Nigerian students, find out the types of internet fraud often committed among Nigerian students, and ascertain the implications of students’ involvement in internet fraud in Nigeria. The survey design was adopted and the simple random sampling techniques were employed in this study. The population size comprise of students of University of Port-harcourt. 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 causes of internet fraud among Nigerian students includes: Get-Rich-Quick syndrome, poverty, societal recognition, pressure from peers and family. The result of the findings reveals that the implications of students’ involvement in internet fraud in Nigeria includes: poor quality of graduates produced, defamation of the nation, cyber bullying, and economic melt down. Therefore, it is recommended that the school authority should collaborate with parents to counsel and educate students on the effects on their engagement in cybercrime 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

The globe has become a global village as a result of technological advancements. The economies of most countries throughout the globe are accessible via electronic via the internet. Because the electronic market is available to everyone (including eavesdroppers and criminals), deception thrives in this environment. However, the internet-enabled information technology revolution has had two distinct effects: on the one hand, it has added good qualities to the world. On the other side, it has resulted in a slew of ailments that threaten society’s order, as well as a new wave of crime throughout the planet. Since of the atrocities performed via it, the internet online business services, which are supposed to be a benefit because they expose one to a lot of chances in numerous fields of life, are quickly becoming a source of pain and anxiety. Internet fraud, according to Shinder (2002), is defined as any criminal conduct performed with the use of the internet or another computer network as a component of the crime. Internet fraud refers to crimes committed against an individual or a group of individuals with the intent of causing international harm to the victim’s reputation or causing physical or mental harm to the victim directly or indirectly through the use of modern telecommunication networks such as the internet and mobile phones. Such crimes may jeopardize the nation’s security and economic well-being (Akogwu, 2012). With a significant increase in internet penetration in Nigeria to about 47.1 percent in 2018, and a youth unemployment rate of about 45 percent in 2017, some Nigerian youths have chosen a negative way of acquiring wealth through various forms of internet fraud, according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (Awe,2009). According to the Nigerian Communications Commission’s Cyber Security Outlook for 2017, the Nigerian government loses 128 billion naira per year as a result of this threat. Apart from the economic damage that cyber crime does, it has also tarnished the image of Nigerians living abroad. Furthermore, the pace at which the EFCC reports cyber-related offenses has risen to frightening levels. Unemployment, insufficient staff in the area of cyber security in Nigeria, the desire to get wealthy without working hard, and insufficient regulations governing various cyber-related crimes in the nation are some of the alleged reasons of cybercrime. As a result, research on the causes, consequences, and solutions to internet fraud among Nigerian students is necessary.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The internet’s contribution to the nation’s progress has been tainted by the emergence of new forms of criminality (Olugbodi,2010). The internet has also evolved into a haven for the most profitable and safe forms of criminal activity. From Europe to America, Africa to Asia, internet fraud has become a worldwide issue. Internet fraud has come as a shock and is a weird phenomena that has settled in Nigeria for the time being. Every day, we observe more and more terrible examples of online fraud in Nigeria, each one more horrifying than the one before it. Exam malpractices, falsification of admission, rape, robbery and larceny, sexual abuse, violence, and cultism are all common at Nigerian higher institutions. However, in recent years, cyber fraud has emerged as a new kind of criminality in our higher institutions, denting and drilling holes in the nation’s economy (Ehimen,2010).

1.3 Objective of the Study

The general aim of this study is to examine the causes, implication and solution to internet fraud among Nigerian students. To achieve this, the study will specifically:

Ascertain the prevalence of internet fraud among Nigerian students.
Identify the causes of internet fraud among Nigerian students.
Find out the types of internet fraud often committed among Nigerian students.
Ascertain the implications of students’ involvement in internet fraud in Nigeria.

1.4 Research Question

The following questions will guild this study;

What is the prevalence of internet fraud among Nigerian students?
What are the causes of internet fraud among Nigerian students?
What are the types of internet fraud often committed among Nigerian students?
What are the implications of students’ involvement in internet fraud in Nigeria?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

Ho: The prevalence of internet fraud among Nigerian students is low.
Ha: The prevalence of internet fraud among Nigerian students is high.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study, which is primarily aimed at explaining how cybercrime has impacted on the perception of Nigerian students in the society, the study will provide an insight into the problems associated with cybercrime. This report would be of great benefit for Nigerian students, to expose them to the factors that tend to cause young people’s involvement in cybercrime in Nigeria. It would be useful to the government and related stakeholders to enable them adequately understand factors responsible for and how to curb the continue spread of cybercrime among Nigerian students [and the general public]. The findings will be useful for researchers to further generate knowledge in the field.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The general focus of this study is to evaluate the causes, implication and solution to internet fraud among Nigerian students. However, the study will be delimited to student of University of Port-harcourt .

1.8 Limitation of the Study

Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. The significant constraint was the scanty literature on the subject owing to the nature of the discourse thus the researcher incurred more financial expenses and much time was required in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited choice of sample size.

Additionally, the researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. More so, the choice of the sample size was limited as few respondent were selected to answer the research instrument hence cannot be generalize to other secondary schools. However, despite the constraint encountered during the research, all factors were downplayed in other to give the best and make the research successful.

1.9 Definition of Terms

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

The study is categorized into five chapters. The first chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the problem, objective of the study, research questions and hypothesis, the significance of the study, scope/limitations of the study, and definition of terms. The chapter two covers the review of literature with emphasis on conceptual framework, theoretical framework, and empirical review. Likewise, the chapter three which is the research methodology, specifically covers the research design, population of the study, sample size determination, sample size, and selection technique and procedure, research instrument and administration, method of data collection, method of data analysis, validity and reliability of the study, and ethical consideration. The second to last chapter being the chapter four presents the data presentation and analysis, while the last chapter(chapter five) contains the summary, conclusion and recommendation.

Chapter Five

Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations:

5.1 Introduction

This chapter summarizes the findings on the causes, implication and solution to internet fraud among Nigerian students using University of Port-harcourt 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 to examine the causes, implication and solution to internet fraud among Nigerian students using University of Port-harcourt as a case study. The study was specifically carried out to ascertain the prevalence of internet fraud among Nigerian students, identify the causes of internet fraud among Nigerian students, find out the types of internet fraud often committed among Nigerian students, and ascertain the implications of students’ involvement in internet fraud in Nigeria.

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 students of University of Port-harcourt.

5.3 Conclusion

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

The prevalence of internet fraud among Nigerian students is high.
The causes of internet fraud among Nigerian students includes: Get-Rich-Quick syndrome, poverty, societal recognition, pressure from peers and family.
The types of internet fraud often committed among Nigerian students includes: hacking, credit card fraud, software piracy, cyber identity theft.
The implications of students’ involvement in internet fraud in Nigeria includes: poor quality of graduates produced, defamation of the nation, cyber bullying, and economic melt down.

5.4 Recommendations

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

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 cybercrime free society since these are the students‘ common source of knowledge on cybercrime with focus on the youth which includes university students. This can educate the public on the act, effects and other consequences of cybercrime to every citizen found anywhere in the community, school, mosques, churches and homes.
The school authority should collaborate with parents to counsel and educate students on the effects on their engagement in cybercrime 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.
Schools’ curriculum must include courses on cybercrime to manage and educate students on the effect of cybercrimes on their studies.
The justice system must come out with policies to deal with all matters relating to cybercrimes by establishment of cybercrime 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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