The Documentary Podcast BBC Trending: Inside Nigeria’s hustle kingdoms
Feb 12, 2025
Dive into the intriguing world of Nigeria’s 'Hustle Kingdoms,' where aspiring scammers are trained in cybercrimes like romance scams and sextortion. Explore the dark allure of underground Yahoo Academies, where desperation fuels digital deception. Hear heart-wrenching stories of sextortion's devastating impact, and discover the legal battles faced by authorities trying to combat these organized crime networks. Uncover how new technologies, including AI, are evolving the landscape of digital fraud in this virtual underbelly.
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Hustle Kingdoms: Scamming Schools
- Hustle Kingdoms are physical schools in Nigeria and Ghana where scammers learn their trade.
- They are sometimes called Yahoo Academies due to their use of Yahoo Mail in the 90s.
Learning in Hustle Kingdoms
- Hustle Kingdoms offer practical, apprenticeship-style training in various online scams.
- Learners can also learn from their peers, not just instructors.
Hustle Kingdom Economics
- Hustle Kingdom education is free, making it attractive to those who can't afford traditional schooling.
- Owners profit by taking a commission from the learners' scams.