The Rise of ‘Hustle Academies’ in West Africa: Training for Online Fraud
West Africa has seen a rise in so-called “hustle academies,” where online scammers mentor others in digital fraud and sextortion. These informal training programs teach participants how to exploit victims globally, leveraging social engineering, phishing, and emotional manipulation tactics. The digital nature of these scams allows perpetrators to operate anonymously, making them hard to track and combat. This evolution in cybercrime highlights the increasing sophistication and organized approach of digital fraudsters in the region.
Key Insights into Hustle Academies
- Training Programs: Scammers are formalizing training to spread their tactics to others.
- Sextortion Techniques: Victims are manipulated through trust-based exploitation and coercion.
- Global Impact: These scams target victims worldwide, complicating international law enforcement efforts.
Understanding the structure and reach of these academies is essential to developing more effective countermeasures.
