Yahoo Boys

Yahoo Boys

From Left To Their Own Devices by Toronto Star

October 24, 2025 · 36 min · Season 1 · Episode 6

About this episode

The episode explores the rise of Yahoo Boys and their involvement in sextortion scams targeting teenagers, highlighting the devastating impact on victims and families.

The West African cybercriminals who call themselves the Yahoo Boys have perfected dozens of cons – including the infamous Nigerian Prince email scam. But recently, they've discovered something far more lucrative: the extortion of teenage boys. In just two years, sextortion cases targeting teens have exploded by 18,000 percent. The Yahoo Boys have made millions. And they've left a trail of devastation in their wake that has reached even the most remote communities. In a tiny Manitoba town, one family is still piecing their lives back together after their son became a victim of a deadly sextortion scam. Their story reveals how quickly a predator can weaponize shame – and how little stands between our kids and catastrophe. The platforms know about this crisis. Snapchat alone receives 10,000 reports of sextortion every month. Yet the scams continue, largely unchecked. So one man has decided to do something about it. Cyber analyst Paul Raffile has made it his mission to infiltrate the Yahoo Boys' networks, expose their methods, and bring them to justice – even when no one else will.

Topics covered

  • cybercrime
  • sextortion
  • yahoo boys
  • teen safety
  • online predators
  • social media

Keywords

  • Yahoo Boys
  • sextortion
  • cybercrime
  • Nigerian Prince scam
  • teenagers
  • online safety
  • social media

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Snapchat

Books & works: Nigerian Prince email scam

Places: Manitoba, West Africa

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