The rise of digital fraud in West Africa, particularly in Ghana and Nigeria, has given birth to “hustle kingdoms” – informal academies training individuals in carrying out digital scams. Originating from online scammers themselves, these academies operate online and offline, producing graduates skilled in various scams like online romance fraud and business email compromise.
These academies, previously known as “business centres” in the 1980s, have now transformed into global threats, leveraging skills to fuel widespread fraud. Perpetrators often justify their actions as seeking restitution for historical injustices, using supernatural strategies like “juju magic” to manipulate victims.
As the issue escalates, cases of online romance scams and sextortion are surging in the United States and Europe, raising concerns and emphasizing the need for coordinated action to combat these crimes. The blog highlights the complex phenomenon and calls for addressing social and economic factors driving individuals into the cybercrime industry, along with improved victim protection and fraud prevention measures.