Yahoo Plus —The New 419   

Published on August 2, 2010 by TheNEWS   ·   1 Comment

I was stunned when I read that Yahoo Boys have stepped up their fraudulent business (‘Yahoo Plus–The New 419,’ TheNEWS, 26 July 2010 edition). This is in spite of claims by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that it has recorded tremendous success in its fight against these boys. I think the EFCC has only succeeded in chasing these criminals away from public cybercafes. It needs to do more by extending its search to the homes of identified Yahoo boys as well as upgrade its information technology system to attain better results. These days, many practitioners even boast that 419 business is their profession. And until the fight is won, the boys will continue to explore alternative strategies.
Kunle Adewole,
Ilesha.

In my view, it will be difficult to totally stop Yahoo boys from operating because not only is the business lucrative, it is also easy to do. The EFCC will remain handicapped in its efforts because the police who are supposed to work alongside its operatives are providing cover for the boys. The Yahoo boys make returns to police officers from time to time for aiding them.
Monica Njoku,
Lagos.

Current actions of Yahoo boys should not come as a surprise. According to the Bible, things like these are signs of the end-time. To me, these Yahoo boys are no longer practising internet fraud, they are into money making rituals that involve taking people’s lives. Their present actions should not be called Yahoo plus but money-making rituals. They only use Yahoo to cover up their devilish actions.
Abayomi Adedeji,
Lagos.

It is such a good thing that your magazine has exposed the nefarious activities of the so-called Yahoo boys. I reside in an area where young men below 30 years ride cars worth millions of naira and live in expensive houses. And these lads don’t have any recognised means of livelihood. They are into money making rituals.
Angel Babatunde,
Shomolu.

Defrauding people  is not limited to this part of the world. People are into it all over the world. The use of internet to defraud, popularly called Yahoo, gained prominence in Nigeria due, largely, to the non-existence of jobs for our teeming youths. Sadly, government officials, bankers and other professionals are also involved in this nefarious business because Nigerians have a way of making negative things dig roots in their homes.
Sule Mohammed,
Nasarawa.

I am a graduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU. When I was in school, undergraduates, boys and girls, were always ready to do anything to get rich, including duping through the internet and going fetish. The people involved in Yahoo Plus are mostly graduates who no longer can dupe foreigners through credit cards and cheques. To maintain their affluence and influence, they have resorted to using fetish means to make money. Evidence abounds of boys using their girlfriends, siblings or even their mothers or fathers for rituals. It is a really sad situation that we have found ourselves.
Ekaette Edet,
Calabar.

I think your recent investigative reports on kidnapping, robbery and ritual killings are excellent pieces that will educate and enlighten the populace on the evils of these deeds and how they can prevent their loved ones from being victims or being sucked into the ring of perpetrators. Kudos to your magazine. It is sad that young boys and girls these days want to get rich quick, not minding the cost. Their actions remind me of a movie by 50 Cent titled Get rich or die trying. The way things are going, it will be difficult to stop those already involved in the obnoxious  business. However, government can discourage younger ones from going into crime only if it manages to provide jobs as an alternative.
David Abraham,
Yenagoa.

When I read your cover story on Yahoo Plus, I was amazed at the level to which these Yahoo boys have gone in their push to get rich at all costs. I was even more surprised to learn how they are trying to disguise what is generally known as money making rituals by calling it Yahoo Plus. Our society should vehemently fight those involved in these activities.
Tosin Akerele,
Akure.

Your magazine really exposed what Yahoo boys are doing these days. It must have been a difficult task for you to put such a story together. I really commend your courage and the thorough investigation the writer must have done to feed us with the latest developments and new modes of operation of these boys. Keep the flag flying.
Biola Omolusi,
Agege.

With your cover story on Yahoo Plus, you have proved that you can surprise and at the same time inform your readers. You guys are thorough in your reports. Keep the flag flying.
Gbenga Akinwale,
Ibadan.

I always look forward to reading your magazine every week because you are objective all the time. Besides, you guys always endeavour to do proper investigations before publishing your stories. I must say you did not fail me in your cover story: Yahoo Plus. While I am not in support of what the Yahoo boys are doing, I feel the alarming rate of unemployment has contributed a great deal to the surge witnessed in such evil acts. While those already in the business may be difficult to stop, I believe that if the federal government takes making more jobs available for our youths as a matter of urgency, those aspiring to go into it may be discouraged.
Jude Ajumogobia
Benin

Nigerians are an interesting lot. Despite the spread of Christianity and Islam, our youths, modern as they are, are devilish enough to be interested in money making rituals. Many of them do not even spare a moment to ponder if the supernatural can really work when it is applied through the internet? Perhaps those involved in it are simply lucky that their deals work out well for them. I do not believe electronic fraud can be backed by rituals or juju. My take is that they are making money through rituals but conning people into believing it is through internet fraud.
Bimbo Odukoya
Ilorin.

Why is it that when it comes to such negative activities like mega fraud and internet scams, Nigerians devote time and energy to researching and experimenting till they succeed? But in matters that will be of great benefit to our wellbeing as a people and nation, we usually grope in the dark with no clear cut direction for solutions. It is quite unfortunate.
Kehinde Obaditan
Akure.

Internet fraud did not just develop out of nothing. With advanced technology comes a more advanced method of approaching almost every difficulty. And since money making is paramount to everyone’s survival, avenues that the internet offers to fulfil this yearning will always be tapped.
Soji Amodemade,
Surulere.

There is no way internet fraud can be stopped because most of those involved are not convinced their activities are anti-social and criminal. Therefore, getting caught is no big deal to them because they always look at the brighter side—making it big and having enough money to spend and maintain an ostentatious lifestyle.
Simon Peters Obi,
Enugu.

It is sad that internet fraud has become the mainstay of the bulk of youth in the country, especially as there are little or no job opportunities for them. Government can successfully clamp down on those involved in the nefarious activities only when it has formulated ways to make the youth employable when they complete schooling. Internet fraud, from every point of view, is a dangerous trend.
Fatai Bello,
Ilorin.

Your cover story on the activities of the Yahoo boys was a good one. The truth is that parents and the general public praise those involved in the act to high heavens. Just look at the way our musicians sing their praises all the time. These praises only serve to encourage our youths to go to any length to get rich.
Tunde Ilori,
Enugu.

If not for Yahoo, I wonder how government wanted the youths of this country to survive. Where are the jobs? I wanted to work but there was none for me. Since there are no jobs I had to do what was available. I am a Yahoo boy and my numerous activities have enabled me to survive. Or shouldn’t I survive? Which one is really better: Yahoo fraud or armed robbery? Well, a new twist is developing—kidnapping. It is getting bigger by the day. To some people, it is the only way to survive the current suffocating economic hardship.
Segun Fasuba.
Eboyin.

The only thing I can say about these Yahoo boys is that they are lazy and want to get rich quick at all cost. As the saying goes: Easy come, easy go. How else can one describe the way Yahoo boys spend money. They are turning young ladies into prostitutes by spending lavishly on them. I don’t think the trend can be stopped, but it can be controlled. Even some so-called religious people engage in it.
Bidemi Adediwura,
Epe.

My advice to the various arms of government is to live up to expectation of our youths, particularly graduates, by providing employment opportunities. It is when this is done that the menace of kidnapping, Yahoo fraud and armed robbery damaging the image of the country can be stopped.
Akeem Aremu,
Abakaliki.

Orji Kalu Joins ‘‘Party of Murderers’’
In the not-too-distant past Orji Uzor Kalu was synonymous with the Peoples Progressive Alliance, PPA. Recently, however, his presence in the party became irrelevant. For a greedy politician like him, rejoining the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, “the party of murderers”, is the ideal thing to do. His thinking, I believe, is that rejoining PDP will bring him back to political relevance. But he may not be able to achieve his goal because his action is like a thief coming to apologise to the owner of the goods he stole. Expectedly, the owner can only forgive, he will not forget.
Promise Agoi,
Oka-Akoko

Sex In The Office: Bank Manager Sacked
The sacking of Mr. B, a bank manager, for having sex with a subordinate in his office was rather harsh. I think suspension would have been better. The truth is, Mr. B was just unlucky to turn out a scapegoat. We all know that some top management staff of corporate organisations do worse things. The randy banker waited until after official hours to satisfy his lust. His major offence is that he had the lady in his office. I think a six-month suspension would have been the proper thing to do. Handed a six-month suspension, a man of integrity would resign.
Helen Udoh,
Calabar.