Scam Nation: Decoding the Street Lingo of Young Cyber Fraudsters
Young people may view online scams as easy money, often perceiving them as victimless crimes if they believe banks will reimburse all losses. This mindset, combined with financial pressures, draws many into the world of fraud, where slang terms like 'squares' and 'fullz' mask criminal activities.
The Language of Scammers
Kaf Okpattah, an investigative journalist at ITN, speaks the language of scammers fluently. In his new book, Scam Nation, he decodes key terms:
- Squares: Refers to bank cards used in fraudulent transactions.
- Fullz: Denotes a person's complete financial information, often stolen from the dark web.
- Clicking: Means using stolen details to commit online crimes.
- Addy: A shipping address for fraudulently purchased goods.
- Mule herder: Someone who recruits and manages individuals accepting stolen funds.
Okpattah learned many of these terms during his school years, where peers casually discussed using stolen 'fullz' to buy designer items, with spoils sent 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 Allure of Fraud for the Young
Now in his 20s, Okpattah reflects on how close he came to falling into fraud before turning to journalism to expose criminals. He notes that scammers are typically young, leveraging the internet and social media to facilitate crimes and flaunt their gains. One scammer, described as "basically the Kim Kardashian of fraud," boasts to 150,000 followers about his latest cons while riding an electric scooter.
The temptation of what seems like free money is strong, especially for those with limited resources, making students prime targets. 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 instruct them to obtain account details from peers, targeting classmates in economics or philosophy.
Motivations and Parental Warnings
For some, the drive is less about necessity and more about showing off. Okpattah observes, "If your parents can afford you the nice things and you live that comfortable life, then it's more of 'check me out, I'm being cool.'" This culture parallels online movements like the manosphere, using influencers and coded language to glamorise fraud.
As a parent of a teenager, Okpattah advises vigilance. While 'squares' might be innocuous, terms like 'fullz' or 'deets' (sometimes synonymous with fullz) in social media searches are red flags. He warns, "If you see your children searching those terms on social media platforms in their recent searches, then that's a cause for concern." He adds that algorithms promoting flashy lifestyles can lure teens, suggesting proactive measures like monitoring online activity.
Conclusion
Scam Nation: Undercover with the Next Generation of Cyber Fraudsters by Kaf Okpattah, published by William Collins on 23 April, offers a stark look into the subculture of youth fraud. It underscores the need for awareness and intervention to prevent young people from being ensnared by the deceptive allure of online scams.
