STUDENTS’ PREDISPOSITION TO BEING A VICTIM OF INTERNET CRIME IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The intensive and pervasive use of the use of the internet among the youth is an incontrovertible fact. Electronic or cybercrime among the youth has figuratively become endemic beating most security preventive networks and putting online users at the risk of becoming unsuspecting victims. This paper examines students’ Students’ Predisposition to Being a Victim of Internet Crime in Tertiary Institutions of Nigeria. The study employs quantitative research methods, 150 students were selected using multistage sampling procedure. Data were gathered on User’s purpose of using Internet and predisposition to internet Victimization; and Student Socio-economic status and Victimization Experience. Data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentage and correlation analysis. information from the respondents revealed that, students who engaged in online banking had been victimized at least in which their accounts was debited by unknown person without their knowledge/ consent and also, those who engaged in chatting and performing e-business transaction with high social economic status are more susceptible to e-victimization experience, more so, users’ motives of surfing internet are directly related to their vulnerability to victimization experience. Finally, from the study, it was observed that there is positive relationship between individual socio-economic status and their victimization experienced. The study concludes that students who engaged in online banking transaction, both via app, point of sales POS or e-transfer is exposed to fraudsters and more vulnerable to internet fraud experiences therefore recommended that student should try as much as possible not to display wealth or any of their socio-economic information on social media.