Social Media Users Opinion on Facebook and Email Frauds: A Study of the Students of Kaduna State University, Nigeria

Abstract

The development of social media was brought by Information and Communication 
Technology leading to gradual disappearance of boundaries and turning the entire world 
into connected communities in what is usually described as ‘global village’. As global 
communities get more connected, there are benefits and drawbacks. One of such 
drawbacks is that fraudsters and scammers who utilize the global connectedness to 
deceive innocent online users through all sorts of cyber-crime activities. This unhealthy 
activity has attracted global concerns and opinions. This paper examined opinion of 
students of Kaduna State University, Nigeria, on Facebook and Email Frauds. Survey 
method was used to investigate the subject matter. Using purposive sampling technique, 
a total of two hundred (200) respondents were drawn from the undergraduate of the 
University. Findings revealed that, frauds on social media take place by sending scam 
messages via email accounts or posting messages tagging the victims requesting for their 
Bank Verification Number (BVN) so as verify bank account of the unsuspecting use and 
sometimes hacking of Facebook or email accounts and then sending threatening messages containing false information subjecting the account users being duped.  The 
study further found that these frauds are attributed to lack of employment, poverty and 
laziness among youths. The study recommends that the public especially online users 
should constantly be sensitized on cyber frauds to avoid being scammed.