Strategic business movements? The migration of online romance fraudsters from Nigeria to Ghana
This study used an emic approach to examine the dynamics of online romance fraud, focusing on the migration of offenders from Nigeria to Ghana. We collected data through qualitative methods, such as semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Ghanaian police officers and Nigerian law enf...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Economic Criminology |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949791425000041 |
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| author | Suleman Lazarus Mark Button Kaina Habila Garba Adebayo Benedict Soares Mariata Hughes |
| author_facet | Suleman Lazarus Mark Button Kaina Habila Garba Adebayo Benedict Soares Mariata Hughes |
| author_sort | Suleman Lazarus |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study used an emic approach to examine the dynamics of online romance fraud, focusing on the migration of offenders from Nigeria to Ghana. We collected data through qualitative methods, such as semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Ghanaian police officers and Nigerian law enforcement officers were consulted for their perspectives. Thematic analysis revealed key findings, including the migration patterns of Nigerian offenders to Ghana and the institutionalisation of scamming enterprises. These findings shed light on the transnational and structural factors driving online romance fraud in West Africa, highlighting both its global reach and the local mechanisms sustaining these criminal networks. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of regional and international cybercrime dynamics, offering valuable insights to inform policy and law enforcement strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bf4e69796a2049088dac80e4b2493459 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2949-7914 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Economic Criminology |
| spelling | doaj-art-bf4e69796a2049088dac80e4b24934592025-02-05T04:32:55ZengElsevierJournal of Economic Criminology2949-79142025-03-017100128Strategic business movements? The migration of online romance fraudsters from Nigeria to GhanaSuleman Lazarus0Mark Button1Kaina Habila Garba2Adebayo Benedict Soares3Mariata Hughes4Mannheim Centre for Criminology, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE, United Kingdom; Department of Sociology, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa; Corresponding author at: Mannheim Centre for Criminology, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Houghton Street, London, WC2A 2AE, United KingdomCentre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime, University of Portsmouth, United KingdomEconomic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abuja, NigeriaEconomic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abuja, NigeriaDepartment of Sociology, University of Surrey, Stag Hill, Guildford GU2 7XH, United KingdomThis study used an emic approach to examine the dynamics of online romance fraud, focusing on the migration of offenders from Nigeria to Ghana. We collected data through qualitative methods, such as semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Ghanaian police officers and Nigerian law enforcement officers were consulted for their perspectives. Thematic analysis revealed key findings, including the migration patterns of Nigerian offenders to Ghana and the institutionalisation of scamming enterprises. These findings shed light on the transnational and structural factors driving online romance fraud in West Africa, highlighting both its global reach and the local mechanisms sustaining these criminal networks. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of regional and international cybercrime dynamics, offering valuable insights to inform policy and law enforcement strategies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949791425000041Online romance fraudSakawa boysYahoo boysInstitutionalisation of scamsMigration of cybercriminalsWest Africa |
| spellingShingle | Suleman Lazarus Mark Button Kaina Habila Garba Adebayo Benedict Soares Mariata Hughes Strategic business movements? The migration of online romance fraudsters from Nigeria to Ghana Journal of Economic Criminology Online romance fraud Sakawa boys Yahoo boys Institutionalisation of scams Migration of cybercriminals West Africa |
| title | Strategic business movements? The migration of online romance fraudsters from Nigeria to Ghana |
| title_full | Strategic business movements? The migration of online romance fraudsters from Nigeria to Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Strategic business movements? The migration of online romance fraudsters from Nigeria to Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Strategic business movements? The migration of online romance fraudsters from Nigeria to Ghana |
| title_short | Strategic business movements? The migration of online romance fraudsters from Nigeria to Ghana |
| title_sort | strategic business movements the migration of online romance fraudsters from nigeria to ghana |
| topic | Online romance fraud Sakawa boys Yahoo boys Institutionalisation of scams Migration of cybercriminals West Africa |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949791425000041 |
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