Scam Nation: The Street Slang Luring Young People Into Online Fraud
Young people often view online scams as easy money, potentially seeing them as victimless crimes if they believe banks will reimburse all losses. This perception, combined with the allure of quick cash, is drawing more youth into the world of fraud, where specialized slang like 'squares,' 'clicking,' and 'mule herder' masks criminal activities.
Decoding the Language of Scammers
Kaf Okpattah, an investigative journalist at ITN and author of the new book Scam Nation, speaks the language of scammers fluently. He explains key terms: 'squares' refers to bank cards, 'fullz' means a person's full financial information, 'clicking' involves using stolen details for online crime, 'addy' is a shipping address for fraudulently purchased items, and 'mule herder' describes someone who recruits and manages individuals accepting stolen funds.
Okpattah learned many of these terms in school, where peers casually discussed using stolen 'fullz' to buy designer trainers, sourcing details from the dark web and sending spoils to unrelated 'addys.' He recalls, "Fraud was part of my life, just by the nature of when I grew up, who I grew up with and where I grew up. All of my friends were doing it and discussing it and DMing each other about it. So it was just part and parcel of normal life."
The Role of Social Media and Youth Culture
In Scam Nation, Okpattah reflects on his near-fall into fraud and his transition to journalism, where he now tracks and exposes criminals. He notes that scammers are typically young, with the internet and social media playing crucial roles in facilitating crimes and showcasing illicit gains. One scammer, dubbed "basically the Kim Kardashian of fraud," boasts 150,000 social media followers while sharing his latest cons.
The temptation of what seems like free money is strong for those with limited resources, such as students. Okpattah highlights a university student approached to become a money mule, offered cash for use of her bank account. Recruiters are often students themselves, with Okpattah estimating about 50 'fraud boys' in every university year group. He explains, "They're students themselves, they've grown up doing this thing and they've stayed in this world." Higher-ups in the fraud chain instruct them to obtain account details from peers, targeting classmates in economics or philosophy.
Motivations and Parental Vigilance
For some, the motivation is less about necessity and more about showing off. Okpattah says, "If your parents can afford you the nice things and you live that comfortable life and you've never had to see your parents worrying about rents, bills, etc, etc, then it's more of 'check me out, I'm being cool.'" This culture parallels online movements like the manosphere, with influencers glamorizing fraud.
Parents should be alert to specific terms. While 'squares' might innocently refer to bank cards, 'fullz' indicates discussions about full financial information, a red flag. Okpattah warns, "Why on earth would a 13-year-old be discussing full financial information unless you're: a) planning on handing yours over; or b) planning on taking someone else's?" Another term, 'deets,' can be synonymous with 'fullz' in fraud contexts.
He advises monitoring social media searches for these terms and being wary of algorithms promoting flashy content. "If the algorithm is showing people with flashy items holding lots of cash, then the chances are that they are either in that world or being sucked into that world," he says, suggesting proactive measures to curb interest.
A Call to Action
Scam Nation: Undercover with the Next Generation of Cyber Fraudsters by Kaf Okpattah, published by William Collins on 23 April, sheds light on this growing issue. It serves as a crucial resource for understanding and preventing youth involvement in online fraud, emphasizing the need for awareness and intervention in an increasingly digital world.
