CYBER CRIME

The ubiquity of digital technology and the integration of computing and communication devices have bridged geographical distances and facilitated global connectivity. it’s amazing how we can now interact with people from different parts of the world with just a few clicks and taps. In less than 5 decades, the internet has expanded dramatically.transforming the way we communicate, acquire information and run businesses. it’s really fascinating how the internet has evolved and become an integral part of our lives.it has transitioned from a novelty to a crucial component that we rely on daily. Data 1estimates that the total number of internet users at the end of 2023 was around 5.3 billion, which amounted to 65.7 percent of the global population, of this total, 4.95 billion, or 61.4 percent of the world's population, were social media users While the technological advancement has brought myriads of advantages and improvements to various aspects of our lives.there’s also a downside to these development: an unfortunate increase in criminal activities.As opportunities arise so does the potential for crime; almost every stride is accompanied by an opportunity for criminals to exploit. Starting from the emergence of viruses, worms, and other malicious software in the 1980s and 1990s, the 2000s witnessed a surge in identity theft, online scams, and financial fraud

This study empirically examines the link between financial technology and the rise of cybercrime in Nigeria. The intensity of detected cybercrime (measured in billions of naira) was used as the dependent variable, with three financial technologies, ATMs, internet services, mobile banking and a control variable (an organizational dummy involved in combating cybercrime). are regressed on four explanatory variables consisting of In Nigeria, like EFCC. The ordinary least squares (OLS)
econometric method was used for estimation. Empirical evidence shows that financial technology has a significant impact on cybercrime in Nigeria. ATMs, Internet, and mobile banking facilities in particular are positively and significantly associated with cybercrime in Nigeria. Further evidence shows that cybercrime, cybercrime rates, albeit with a weaker impact, with more active efforts on the part
of the EFCCC to curb cybercrime in Nigeria. This suggests that more efforts are needed. Given the empirical evidence, the development of sophisticated new and innovative cybercriminals to tame technological devices is essential. This should go hand in hand with strong institutional capacity such as the EFCC and strengthening the legal and judicial framework. Reducing the incidence of cybercrime in Nigeria to negligible levels

Crime appears to be a permanent feature of modern society (Shehu, 2014). Despite efforts of criminologist, law enforcement agency, personal and criminal justice professionals to minimise it, the world is becoming a more terrible place. Where crimes such as terrorism, kidnapping, robbery, assault, sex offences, child molestation, burglary, environmental crime, arson (crimes without a victim), economic crime, political crime and cybercrime are the order of the day (Igba, Chimezie, Aja, Nnamani, Ogodo, 2018). Crime appears to be a permanent feature of modern society. Despite efforts of social workers, law enforcement agency, personal and criminal justice professionals to minimise it, the world is becoming a more terrible place. Where crimes such as homicide, kidnapping, robbery, assault, sex offences, child molestation, burglary, environmental crime, arson are crimes without a victim, economic crime, political crime and cybercrime are the order of the day