The development of the Internet and social networks favored the explosion of the number of cyber attacks by "grazers". These are crooks who rip up Internet users via many platforms.
It all starts with a message on the internet. The "grazers", whose name refers to " sheep nourish effortlessly », Save the possibility of a magnificent love story, a well -paid work or a promising investment. And one day they ask for money. It is at this precise moment thatyou have to cut short the discussion.
The grazers are often young men, sometimes minor, sometimes graduates, some very gifted in language and in computer science. Many come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Most of them operate in cybercafés. If the term "grazers" comes from Côte d'Ivoire, the crooks are present in several countries, such as Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon. Their names vary according to the country (in Nigeria, grazers are called Yahoo-boys, due to the use of the Yahoo address). The motivations are simple: become rich by supporting as much money as possible to the victims. This scourge, which made its Appearance in the early 2000s, has been amplified over the years, and especially during the period of the Cavid-19 pandemic.
A number of scams increasing over the years
According to the Seneplus media, the Ivorian authorities evoke an increase in "cybercrime files", increasing 3000 in 2018 at 7000 today. Côte d'Ivoire has become sadly famous by distinguishing itself as the "world capital of online imposture". In 2023, a report by the IT security platform Knowbe4 reveals a study established with 800 people of several African countries. Half people admitted to having been the victim of online scams, loss of money, or identity substitution. The consequences of these scams are very serious. Many victims find themselves in debt, others see their identity usurped. Psychological damage is substantial. They last more time than the repair linked to the loss of money. By shame, many victims do not dare to file a complaint.
The methods used by grazers
The grazers use several platforms: social networks (Facebook and Instagram), where they create false profiles, false influencer pages, sometimes false accounts of personalities, through which they ask for money or sell bogus products. Ivorian humorist Willy Dumbo saw his identity usurped by a grazer on social networks, a false account which was recognizable because the name was poorly spelled. He wrote an alert message for his fans, saying that he would never ask them for money. Messageries like WhatsApp and Telegram can be used to offer investment offers a little too beautiful to be true, job offers with high wages. All false of course. They will ask to give sums for investments, or to put forward costs for processing a file or to pay an interview for a job.
The most common feelings scam
Grazers are also used online games, emails, and dating sites. The sentimental rope is the one that is the most used. The grazers use false profiles, sometimes photos of real people (without their consent), and write in abundance of words of love, sometimes for months. To this end, many grazers can spend several days without sleeping, or very little, to send messages continuously. And one day, they take out the fatal card: An event that makes the sensitive rope vibrate and calls emotions. It was then that they ask for money. ⚠️
How to protect yourself from grazers and what to do in the event of a scam?
The simplest rules in the event of a scam attempt are never send money, born never communicate your bank data and do not Never publish anything intimate, whether it is his personal data (risk of identity theft) or compromising photographs (risk of sexual blackmail). It is also necessary to avoid showing signs of "wealth" on social networks. The links must not be opened under any pretext. From the first request for money, the best to cut short and report the grazer. Some sites and applications have dedicated services. It is recommended to use secure passwords, throw away unknown emails that require or promise money, favor secure regulations on sales sites, find out about guarantees, be wary of too good offers and install parental control.
Grazers will often ask to change messaging from an application, which encourages the victim to give his phone number. Regarding scams with feelings, several signs can alert: the avalanche of compliments, too quickly, too early, very personal questions. Sometimes there are inconsistencies in terms of conversation, because the grazers can be several to discuss behind the same profile. They will also be very inventive when it comes to finding excuses so as not to show up (broken camera, no network, old computer). In other cases of scams, grazers can use blackmail and anxiety. One of the methods prescribed to flush out false profiles is to do a reversed search for the profile photo using Google Images, and the "Research Research" tab. In the event of a scam, you must keep all traces of exchanges with the grazer in order to constitute a file, and file a complaint as quickly as possible. In 2011, the cybercrime fighting platform (PLCC) In Côte d'Ivoire is created. They treat complaints, investigate and make arrests. In 10 years, the number of files taken over the charges has increased from 150 to 5000. In 2018, according to PLCC figures, 89 cybercriminals were arrested in Côte d'Ivoire, following 2860 complaints. 5.5 billion CFA francs were found.
BRISTER.COM: A successful series and the fall of a myth of "social success"
Alain Guikou , the director of the series "BROUTEUR.com" , held a cybercafé to Yopougon in 1998. He explains that one of his customers spent a lot of time there, paying him to stay and to come 24 hours a day. Alain Guikou started filming the series in 2010, she now has 3 seasons. He says that some grazers want to appear in it, and that others tell him that he ruins their business. Many grazers are proud to tell him their stories. Some actors in the series met grazing, but one of the actresses denounces the benefits she suffered, after being accused of scam while it was a grazer who used his image on the Internet.
If the grazing could be perceived as a social success in the early 2000s, this is no longer the case today. It is increasingly considered to be a flight, and the arrests are increasing. From the 2010s, more and more people recognized the crime of scams, a feeling amplified by sordid revelations according to which, human sacrifices are accomplished during mystical practices, so that some grazers "bewitched" their victims. The graduation gradually falls into disgrace.
