NIGERIA IS NOT THE HOME OF CYBER CRIME

A 2008 report by the Internet Crime Complaint Center, which is a partnership between the FBI and America's National White Collar Crime Center, revealed the top 10 countries of cyber crime perpetrators. They are

1. United States of America (66%)
2. United Kingdom (10%)
3. Nigeria (7%)
4. Canada (3%)
5. China (1%)
6. South Africa (1%)
7. Ghana (1%)
8. Spain (1%)
   
9. Italy (.5%)
   
10. Romania (.5%)
    

Now, it is rather eye opening that Nigeria came in third at 7% but the average individual, almost anywhere in the world, would assume that Nigeria would be the key location for cyber crime perpetrators. It is also interesting that the USA came in first with 66%. Being that it has a clear majority on cyber crime, why is there even a category designated to Nigeria on the FBI's list of internet scams called Nigerian letter scams?

This disconnect between the reality of cyber crime and the misconceived perceptions of cyber crime highlight the need for more positive P.R. for Nigeria. The country's federal government is in one of the best positions to highlight and challenge such misconceptions. Hopefully, it will do so, or at least take full advantage of some of the recommendations here and elsewhere so as to allow others to do this for the country.

Nonetheless, this new report is not an excuse for Nigerian authorities to slack on finding and punishing those who commit cyber crime and all crime, in general, the percentage of cyber crime perpetrators should go down.

via nigeriancuriosity.com

These stats don't surprise me, it's all about stereotypes and perception. People just hear things, they don't do any research for themselves and they decide to put a stigma on you because of your place of origin. It's a four letter word called life I guess.