Ever received an e-mail asking for you to help transfer millions of dollars into your account? What about the one where the perpetrator is on his or her dying bed and wants you to help give his money to charity? Typically these e-mails are followed by a request for your SSN and Bank Account numbers, among many personal information? Those e-mails are a type of Advance Fee Fraud (AFF) known as 419. The 419 name comes from a section within Nigeria’s Penal Code which covers fraud schemes.
Sadly, these 419 schemes have earned Nigeria and Nigerians worldwide a really bad stigma. Nigeria’s leading musicians sponsored by Microsoft are now doing something about it with the song “Maga no Need Pay,” a song aimed at fighting cybercrime. Check on the video and feel free to let us know your thoughts!
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“The concern for internet safety is a global phenomenon, especially as those who never had access are increasingly being connected through their computers, mobile phones and other devices. While the prevalence of social networking websites, online communities and internet-enabled processes should be great news for individual, corporate and government users, the concern for safety – and worry about cybercrime – remains a major source of concern. A 2008 Internet Crime report listed Nigeria as number three on the list of the worlds top ten online crime spots; and the prevalence of cybercrime among a sizeable number of young Nigerians goes to show the need for immediate concern, especially with the recent boom in mobile service provision and online payment platforms in Nigeria.
The Microsoft Internet Safety, Security and Privacy Initiative for Nigeria (MISSPIN) seeks to raise awareness through a social campaign that involves various projects. The social campaign, sponsored by Microsoft within the framework of the Unlimited Program’s Internet Safety Initiative will direct the spotlight to the issue of internet safety while also providing a platform for other industry players to work together. Phase 1 of the campaign involved numerous activities, including sensitization workshops, a musical concert (The Alternative, essay/quiz competitions, appointment of campaign ambassadors and more. Phase 2 of the campaign has now commenced, and amongst the listed activities are the Musical Collaboration Project, Concert/Sticker/Radio Campaigns and Rehabilitation Project. These will help sensitize the public and re-direct the energies of participants of cyber crime to positive use.
The rehabilitation program will allow twenty-five (25) young people who have been involved in cybercrime activities to benefit from training (life skills, employability skills, I.T., etc), mentorship and paid internships. They will serve as role models for other youth who have been wondering about their future beyond online criminal involvements. The musical collaboration project, which is led by one of the campaign ambassadors, Ohimai Amaeze, enjoys the benefit of having Cobhams Asuquo as producer, and an impressive line-up of artistes who have volunteered to support the MISSPIN project: Banky W, MI, Modele, Omawumi and Rooftop MCs! The song and video were released on February 3, 2010. Watch out for our sticker campaign that will present messages that resonate with the population that will best benefit from MISSPIN. One of the stickers will announce, “Maga no need pay, I go hard for ma dough!” “
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My Dear Friends,
Thanks for this suggestion but my friend I would suggest to all countries and financial institutions to block the IP addresses of African countries as not only Nigeria but many other countries like Burkina Faso, South African nigros are also doing financial cyber crimes. Its my suggestion only which has come from my experience. . .
Thanks
"MISSPIN Ambassador Ohimai Godwin Amaize is working to shift cultural perceptions of scammers and their victims through the B.L.I.N.G. project, which unites some of Nigeria’s most influential musicians around the problem of cybercrime. Their song, “Maga No Need Pay,” challenges young Nigerians to resist the temptation of “yahoo-yahoo” and avoid creating more maga, or victims. The song, an Afro Hip-Hop and R&B fusion, is intended to help inspire both national and international audiences." – Tim Cranton, Associate General Counsel, Microsoft