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New book, ‘The Yahoo Boys,’ explores the world of Nigerian love scammers

Spanish journalist Carlos Barragán delves into the world of the Yahoo Boys, young Nigerian hustlers who scam lonely Westerners out of their money online.

Carlos Barragán in Ikotun hanging out with locals and some Yahoo Boys.

Courtesy of Carlos Barragán

In the US, they’re called romance scammers. But in Nigeria, they are known as “Yahoo Boys” — that’s a reference to their Yahoo email addresses. They are young Nigerian hustlers who con lonely Americans and Europeans out of their money through online scams.…