PEER INFLUENCES AS PREDICTORS OF INTERNET FRAUD INVOLVEMENT AMONG YOUTHS IN AWKA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

The study investigated peer influences as predictors of internet fraud involvement among youths in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra state. The study was guided by one research question and one null hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted a correlational survey design. The population comprises of youths in Awka south local government area of Anambra state.  The target population for this study is put at 96,985 (i.e. 56.1% of the population of Awka South L.G.A and The sample size was four  hundred and sixteen (416). Two instruments were used for collections of data, namely peer influence questionnaire (PLQ) and Internet fraud Questionnaire (IFQ) was developed by the researcher. Both instrument were validated by expert. Peer  influence questionnaire (PLQ) has a reliability of 0.76  and Internet fraud Questionnaire (IFQ) has a reliability of 0.82. The researcher administered copies of the instruments through direct delivery method.   Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (Pearson r) was used in answering research question one and ,the t-test statistic equivalent of the correlation coefficient was be obtained and used for the determining the hypothesis to reject or uphold. Findings from the study revealed that there is significant prediction  Peer influence  and predict internet fraud involvement among youth in Akwa South Local Government in Anambra States. Recommendations were made that: Parents should monitor the kind of friends  their children keep  and endeavour to sensitized them on the need of having the right values toward  life and shun internet fraud.