BUSTED: Meet The Professional Internet Fraudsters Popularly Called ''Sakawa Boys'' In Ghana

This is one of many hubs of internet fraudsters (known as "Sakawa boys" in Ghana and "Yahoo boys" in Nigeria). A group of young men sit nonchalantly in front of computer screens.

 The silence in the room is occasionally disturbed by chatting among the guys as they peruse through pictures and chat online with their victims, who are referred to as “clients” or “mugu.”

Internet fraud has become immensely popular in Ghana, Nigeria, and many other West African countries. It has even inspired movies, songs and catchphrases. There are many reasons for this.

First, scores of young people are unemployed in the region. Also, the virtual world is still like the Wild Wild West with barely any effective legal controls and restrictions.

Samuel

Samuel is a Ghanaian who is also into internet fraud. He used to live with his grandmother. Now, he has rented a place in another part of the Accra, and he has a car to move about.

He seems very content with himself as he reveals to me that his girlfriend recently gave birth to his son. Samuel does not seem interested in hiding the fact that he is into internet fraud. He tells me that he has some youngsters who he is teaching the scheme.