Nigerian scammers use AI to blackmail teenagers: how the schemes work.

Growing problem of fraud

According to The Sun: In a sparsely decorated living room, seven young men are sprawled on sofas, actively working with their mobile phones. This is the 'Kingdom of Hustlers' - a training center where young Nigerians learn risky fraud methods, trying to scam British teenagers out of thousands of pounds.

This is not just an ordinary apartment in Lagos, but a real hub of fraud. The main figure here is a young man named 'Ghost,' who proudly calls himself the 'star of fraud.' He claims:

“I am the boss of fraud - I take 70%, they take 30%.”

Ghost works with seven young men, but in some 'Kingdoms of Hustlers,' the team can consist of up to 50 young guys. He also claims that there is over a million pounds sterling in his cryptocurrency wallet, earned through fraud.

Exposed scammers

Journalist Tear Dhondi, who has gained unprecedented access to the 'fraud school,' notes:

“When you think of the Kingdoms of Hustlers, you imagine a call center. But no, these are just regular apartments. Ghost told us that they also become homes for many of these guys.”

Among the interviewed scammers is Ola, a man in his early twenties who has been involved in cybercrime since he was 14. He shares that he started with romance scams and then moved to blackmail:

“I was first taught how to do romance scams, and then we moved to blackmail.”

Using fake accounts created based on women's names, he tries to obtain explicit photos from his victims. The scripts he uses are shocking: the scam messages start with the words: “I'm just lying naked in bed, I'm bored, can you help me?”

Tragic consequences of fraud

Nigeria has become a leading country in Africa for cybercrime. Scammers, known as “Yahoo Boys,” have made significant fortunes and gained popularity by showcasing their lavish lifestyles on social media. Unfortunately, as a result of their actions, cases of suicide have also been recorded. According to reports, in the US, the link between sex blackmail and teenage suicides has been recorded in at least 30 cases since 2021.

Among British victims is Murray Dowie, who took his own life in 2023 at the age of 16 after becoming a victim of scammers.

Many of the interviewed scammers do not feel regret for their actions. Tear Dhondi notes,

“Many of the interviewed men show very little sympathy for their victims and do not think about the fact that some young guys are committing suicides.”

Modern fraud technologies

A man who hunts for his victims on Instagram and Snapchat has invested in software for $3500 that can transform static images into video, projecting the face of a Western woman onto the face of his assistant.

Experts believe that this issue can be addressed with simple online safety measures. In particular, former Meta employee Arturo Beyar states that

“This is not a money problem, and it is not impossible to stop.”

Additionally, Meta has stated that it is “aggressively working to combat fraud by disrupting fraudulent networks and assisting law enforcement.”

This situation highlights the seriousness of fraud, which is increasing every year, particularly among the youth. Teenagers who become victims of such schemes risk not only financial losses but also their mental health. Experts call for enhanced information security and training for young people to reduce the number of fraud victims in the future.