The gain of technology in the world is groundbreaking. It has touched all known facet of life from health, economy, transportation, weather, aviation and communication. Its impact can not be downplayed.
Nonetheless, in Nigeria and other countries, some persons have decided to deploy technology wrongly that has made many loathe technology despite its seamless advantages. This has led to the introduction of impregnable internet security in banks and other measures to check these nefarious activities. With this efforts, these individuals are not soft-pedaling. Their activities have done quite a damage to Nigeria’s image. In line with this, Innovation village points you to five ways Nigerians have deployed technology negatively. These activities affect Nigeria’s image as these malicious use of technology have made front news headlines.
Yahoo-Yahoo
The unemployment rate in Nigeria clearly corresponds with the cliche that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Regrettably, it is the young, active and vibrant minds that belong to this category. These young ones have found solace in Yahoo-yahoo.
This internet scam artists illegally collect bogus money from their unsuspecting foreign victims by offering juicy and irresistible contracts like the award of oil wells. Some ‘Gee-boys’ as they are popularly called have even gone fetish just to ensure a steady flow of cash. The police have cracked down on them several times but they seem to be devising other means to swindle their victims.
False bank Alert
Nigerian banks must be commended for deploying various techniques to simplify banking, However, the problem of false bank alert have been used to defraud so many business men. After they have completed a certain transaction, the buyer will pay using bank transfer and the seller receives the alert within few minutes. But when he (seller) checks his account, there is a huge discrepancy, False alert! It has made many individuals prefer physical cash or go to the bank with the buyer, to transfer and confirm the cash.
Facebook relationship
You meet a guy on facebook, chat for a few days and at the weekend, you are in his house. In other cases, you visit an online listing platform, invite a house help to take care of your children and home. These scenario has led to dire consequences because many refuse to run a thorough background check on these persons they meet online. The story of Cynthia Osokogu readily comes to mind. She was murdered by persons she met online. A lesson for social media users to be careful of their online activities.
You won N100,000, send credit to…
Greed has also made some Nigerians easy victim of technology. An anonymous individual sends you a text message that you have won N100,000, and request that you send call card of 2,000 to a phone number to claim your price. You will be shocked that some gullible Nigerians will send credit card without questioning the credibility of the message. Surprisingly, a few will start dancing and praising God for the breakthrough. Meanwhile, they have been defrauded.
Automated Teller Machine
Oftentimes you are at a loss as to how some of these internet crimes are committed. The ingenuity is outstanding and you question why they do not channel it to positive use. The arrival of ATM has caused quite a ripple. It is either an individual is attacked and taken to the ATM to empty his account or a camera is placed at the ATM and as you are punching in your password, the person is sucking your account dry. The rule of thumb here is that you should be careful with you PIN when using the ATM.
1 Comment
Pingback: Nigeria's 'Yahoo Boys' Targeted as Meta Shuts Down 63,000 Scam Accounts - Innovation Village | Technology, Product Reviews, Business