The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has threatened to bring criminal charges against landlords who lease their properties to “Yahoo boys,” or Internet scammers.
On Wednesday, the EFCC will moderate a discussion on Twitter Spaces with the heading “Give your house to Yahoo boys, spend 15 years in jail” in an effort to inform the public.
The Zonal Commander, Michael Nzekwe, discussed the conversation and accused some landlords of engaging in “cold complicity by hospitality entrepreneurs” by dealing with yahoo guys.
Nzekwe also noted that such behavior violates Section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offenses Act, 2006, which is inapplicable to the situation.
“The section provides for a prison term of between five and 15 years without option of fine for any person who permits his premises to be used for any offence under the Act,” he said.
Nzekwe clarified that the law does not recognize the position of the claim that hoteliers are business people and cannot identify a fraudster.
The EFCC advised them to constantly request proof of identification from their clients and to ask about their job during check-in procedures.
