Abstract

Studies suggest that cyber criminals are not anonymous as we think. National and international security organizations are positioned to advance the fight against cybercrime on a global scale through proactive research into emerging crimes, the latest training techniques, and the development of innovative policing. While cybercrime is a global problem, it is clear that certain regions play an outsized role. The research into new cyber threats is being used to spread awareness among the global law enforcement community. The aim of this study is to examine the attitude and perception of cybercrime among Nigerian youths using University of Africa, Toru Orua, Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta as a case study. To achieve the aim of the study, survey research method using questionnaire as the major instrument was distributed to the student of the University in the execution of the study. Samples were selected using the systematic random sampling techniques. Chi-square and simple percentage were used in analysing the data. In this study, it is discovered that people's reaction to messages depends mainly on how it is perceived. Consequently, fraudulent cyber messages receive different attention and reaction due to positive and negative perception by the recipient. Finding revealed that the Internet is used as a channel for the perpetration of criminal activities. It also revealed that making money in an unemployment society, taking back from the affluent, and a way of antagonizing the government based on a long period of neglect and environmental issues were the main reasons for negative perception. It is recommended that behavior modification and cognitive restructuring techniques be applied to change their perception while the government enacts adequate cyber laws to govern the cyberspace and provide adequate cyber security.