The view that ‘419’ makes Nigeria a global cybercrime player is misplaced Published March 13, 2017 3.42pm GMT Online version: https://theconversation.com/the-view-that-419-makes-nigeria-a-global-cybercrime-player- is-misplaced-73791 Author Suleman Ibrahim Republish this article Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under Creative Commons licence. Nigeria is in the top three of the world’s worst cybercrime perpetrators. Shutterstock The contemptuous label of “cyber-criminals” is the figurative sword with which the Nigerian image is generally being hacked and left for dead. According to Professor Biko Agozino of Virginia Tech university, “there is a long standing demonisation of Nigeria as being full of criminals.” This unfortunate generalisation, especially in the media, has a far-reaching negative impact on the overall image of Nigeria as a nation. It’s become the prism with which most Nigerians are viewed and judged globally. It stems from the country’s vulnerability in a specific category of cybercrime