First and foremost, there are many unlawful activities that happen online that can compromise the security of your devices.
One of such is cyber prostitution and virtual mugging among others. In this article, I want to talk more about how to handle cyber prostitution and secure your network environment. Follow me as we are going to look at how to handle that effectively in this article.
Cyber prostitution, also known as online sex work or digital prostitution, is a growing phenomenon in Nigeria, driven by economic hardship, high unemployment rates, and the widespread use of social media and dating apps.
However, obtaining precise statistics is challenging due to the underground nature of the trade and limited official data.
Below are some key insights and available statistics related to cyber prostitution in Nigeria:
#1 Prevalence and Trends
– Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of internet users in Africa, with over **122 million users** (as of 2023), making it a hotspot for online sex work.
– Many young Nigerians, particularly women and LGBTQ+ individuals, engage in cyber prostitution due to unemployment (Nigeria’s unemployment rate was 33% in 2023 and poverty.
– Platforms like **Instagram, Twitter (X), Snapchat, WhatsApp, TikTok, and dating apps (Tinder, Badoo, etc.) are commonly used to solicit clients.
2. Demographics of Cyber Sex Workers
Age Range
Most online sex workers are between 18–35 years old, with many being students or young graduates.
Gender: Predominantly female, but male and transgender sex workers also operate online.
Location
Major cities like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Calabar have higher concentrations of cyber prostitution activity.
#3. Economic Factors
– Many cyber prostitutes charge between ₦5,000 to ₦50,000 ($6–$60) per encounter, with higher rates for premium services.
– Some operate under sugar daddy” arrangements, where wealthy men provide financial support in exchange for companionship or sexual favors.
#4. Risks and Dangers
Cybercrime Link: Some cyber prostitutes fall victim to scams, blackmail, or trafficking.
Police Crackdown
Nigerian authorities occasionally raid hotels and brothels, but online sex work is harder to track.
Sexual Exploitation: Minors are sometimes coerced into online sex work through deceptive job offers (e.g., modeling scams).
5. Legal and Social Stigma
– Prostitution is illegal in Nigeria under the Criminal Code Act and Sharia Law (in Northern states), but enforcement is inconsistent.
– Many cyber sex workers face social stigma, blackmail (“sextortion”), and violence** from clients.
6. Lack of Official Statistics
– The Nigerian government does not publish official data on cyber prostitution.
– NGOs and researchers estimate that thousands of Nigerian engage in online sex work, but exact numbers are unknown.
7. Comparison with Traditional Prostitution
-Cyber prostitution is considered safer than street-based prostitution but still carries risks of fraud, STDs, and violence.
– The anonymity of the internet allows sex workers to operate discreetly, reducing (but not eliminating) police harassment.
Nigerian laws on prostitution, or the role of social media in facilitating online sex work?
#1 Protection Schemes
The protection scheme is an organised scheme that emerged from the South African Gaming Community.
In this type of crime, criminal organisations force the gamers to protection schemes, where gamers have to pay money (virtual or real) to avoid killing their gamer’ characters killed and theft of their passwords.
#2 Cyber prostitution
In this type of online crime, online games are being used for cyber prostitution. here the customer or the gamer has to pay for cybersex.
In this Sims Online, A Massively Online Player Game, A 17-year old developed a cyber “brothel” where the game pays “Sim-money” (Simolean) for cybersex per minute.
The gamer’s account was eventually cancelled.
#3 Virtual Mugging
Virtual mugging was coined when some players of Lineage II used bots to defeat other gamers and take their items; these were later put on sales on online auction platforms.
How does the malicious user make money?
- They stole items such as passwords and other virtual items which are sold on websites such as ebay, or on forums.
- Items stolen are also sold to other gamers for real or virtual money
- The cyber-criminal may ask the gamer for ransom in return for real or virtual money.
Action Point
PS: I know you might agree with some of the points raised in this article or disagree with some of the issues raised.
Please share your thoughts on the topic discussed. We would appreciate it if you could drop your comment. Thanks in anticipation.
