DECLINING SOCIAL VALUES AND INTERNET CRIME IN OWERRI MUNICIPAL, IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

In every society, there are certain cultural values and value systems that guide every aspect of human behavior. In Nigeria, our time-honored value systems are seriously endangered. This is attributable among other things, to the steady encroachment of alien values associated with colonialism and westernization. Today, internet crime has emerged as one of the most pronounced social vices plaguing society. In Nigeria, numerous internet assisted crimes are perpetrated daily in varying forms such as identity theft, desktop counterfeiting, internet chat room, cyber harassment, fraudulent electronic mail, Automated Teller Machine spoofing, piracy, hacking, phishing and spamming. It is therefore obvious that the seemingly escalating rate of internet crime has become a strong threat to Nigeria’s e-commerce growth and has led to ill-reputation intentionally with attendant consequences. This paper examined the impact of declining social values on internet crime in Owerri Municipal Council Imo State using the differential association theory as framework. Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted in selecting 250 respondents for the study. Quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection were utilized. Findings indicate that decline in social values, poverty, and unemployment are some of the major factors influencing internet crime.