The Upsurge of Cybercrime Among Undergraduate Students of Delta State University, Abraka

ABSTRACT
Nigeria has become notoriously famous for the increasing rate of youth involvement in cybercrime. Similarly, the literature has earmarked Abraka as a cybercrime hotspot for youths. Following the discovery, the current research addresses this rising concern, particularly its prevalence among undergraduate students of Delta State University, Abraka, focusing on identifying the socio-economic factors, examining technology's role, and assessing societal influences on this upsurge. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire to gather data from 100 respondents selected through systematic random sampling. The analysis, conducted using SPSS Version 25, involved descriptive statistics and frequency distributions. Findings indicate a high level of cybercrime involvement among the students, primarily driven by financial incentives and facilitated by technological advancements. Also, it was established that societal norms and peer pressure significantly influence why these students involve in cybercrime. Based on the findings, the study recommends introducing educational interventions, digital literacy programmes, peer support networks, community engagement initiatives, economic empowerment strategies, policy interventions, research collaborations, and public awareness campaigns to de-escalate the socio-economic and societal forces that promote cybercrimes involvement